Hispaniolan curlytail lizard


The Hispaniolan curlytail lizard, also commonly known as the Hispaniolan khaki curlytail, the red-sided curly-tailed lizard, and Schreibers' curly-tailed lizard, is a common lizard species in the family Leiocephalidae. The species is native to Hispaniola in the Caribbean, though an established introduced population can be found in southern Florida. There are two recognized subspecies.

Etymology

The specific name, schreibersi, is in honor of Austrian naturalist Carl Franz Anton Ritter von Schreibers.

Geographic range

L. schreibersii is indigenous to the main island of Hispaniola, and Île de la Tortue. It is also found in Florida as an introduced species.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of L. schreibersii is shrubland at altitudes from sea level to.

Behavior

L. schreibersii is active during the day.

Diet

L. schreibersii feeds mainly on insects.

Reproduction

L. schreibersii is oviparous.

Subspecies

Including the nominotypical subspecies, two subspecies are recognized as being valid.
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Leiocephalus.