Coloptychon rhombifer

Coloptychon rhombifer
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Anguidae
Genus:	Coloptychon
Species:	C. rhombifer
Binomial name
Coloptychon rhombifer
Synonyms
Gerrhonotus rhombifer Peters, 1876, Coloptychon rhombifer Tihen, 1949

Coloptychon rhombifer, also known as the Isthmian Alligator Lizard, is a species of lizard of the Anguidae family. It is found in both Costa Rica and Panama. Unlike many lizards near its habitat, individuals have lateral folds. They give birth to live young. Examples of the species had not been seen during the latter half of the 20th century.

Taxonomy

First described by Wilhelm Peters in 1879 as Gerrhonotus rhombifer, the species was placed in the genus Coloptychon by Joseph A. Tihen in 1949 which was then confirmed by David A. Good in 1988.^[1]

Description

An elongated and broad headed lizard, which is similar to Diploglossus monotropis. An adult measures from 35–50 centimetres (14–20 in), with the tail making up approximately two-thirds of the total length. The upper surface of the body is tan in color, and the body is marked with black-edged brown crossbands, and does not have either orange or red markings.^[1] The lizards are short limbed, and have movable eyelids.^[2] The lizard has a well-defined lateral fold covering small scales which separates the ridges and rows of scales on the belly.^[2] The only other lizards in Costa Rica that also have lateral folds are of the genus Mesapis.^[1]

The Isthmian Alligator Lizard is viviparous,^[2] meaning that as with mammals, the females bear live young.^[3] It had not been seen for fifty years, prior to being discovered in 2000 near Golfito,^[4] and is one of the rarest species of lizard in Costa Rica.^[5]

Habitat

The species lives in the lowland rainforests of Costa Rica,^[1] and in western Panama.^[6] They can mostly be found on land, but have also been found living in trees.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Mathers Savage, Jay (2002). The amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 532–533. ISBN 9780226735382. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HDNQ2bba3QcC&pg=PA532&lpg=PA532&dq=%22Coloptychon+rhombifer%22&source=bl&ots=WF1LFljrHI&sig=v9a5SG4pWTJCoel-cvqBBADCPu4&hl=en&ei=7VTOTdCuCYik8QPflazkDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%22Coloptychon%20rhombifer%22&f=false. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Munoz Chacon, Federico. "Coloptychon rhombifer (Peters 1876)" (in Spanish). darnis.inbio.ac.cr. http://darnis.inbio.ac.cr/ubisen/FMPro?-DB=UBIPUB.fp3&-lay=WebAll&-error=norec.html&-Format=detail.html&-Op=eq&id=3612&-Find. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
3. ^ "Viviparous". BBC Nature. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/adaptations/Vivipary. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
4. ^ "The Rain Forest Conservation Fund". Fundacion UdG / ProSur. http://www.upacificosur.org/Fundacion/Forest.html. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
5. ^ "Une espèce redécouverte - Le lézard "Coloptychon rhombifer"" (in French). MSN News. 27 October 2009. http://news.fr.msn.com/ecologie/photo/galerie.aspx?ucsort=2&cp-documentid=150477669&page=14. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
6. ^ "Coloptychon rhombifer". Reptile Database. http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Coloptychon&species=rhombifer. Retrieved 14 May 2011.