Added 19 April 2026. Last updated 22 April 2026: added details for S. azureus, S. caducus, S. cupreus, S. humeralis, S. marmoratus, S. modestus, S. ornatissimus, S. pectinatus, S. roseiventris, S. torquatus and S. varius.
A South American genus, not frequently seen in captivity. This may be due to lack of interest (at least in the UK) in iguanids from that region, and the scarcity of husbandry information on them. In addition Brazil does not normally permit export of its native species.
Boulenger gives the characteristics of the genus as follows: tympanum distinct; body subcylindrical or depressed; slightly serrated dorsal ridge; dorsal scales small, imbricate, uniform; upper head-scales enlarged, occipital very large; neck strongly pleated below, the folds forming a pair of pouches on each side; no gular sac; digits compressed, bent at the articulations, with keeled lamellae below; no femoral or preanal pores; tail long, cylindrical or compressed; lateral teeth tricuspid, the anterior ones slightly enlarged and canine-like; pterygoid teeth present or absent; large sternal fontanelle; no abdominal ribs.
Fritts gave a later diagnosis of the genus: Small to moderate sized lizards having the following combination of character states: 1) interparietal small or absent; 2) supraoculars not enlarged; 3) posterior head scales usually small; 4) antehumeral fold present or absent; 5) gular fold absent or if present caudal scales large and spinose; 6) ventral scales smooth or only weakly keeled; 7) dorsal scales small or moderate in size, those near middorsal region imbricate; 8) subdigital lamellae keeled; 9) femoral and preanal pores absent; 10) tail normal or spinose, not elongate or distinctly compressed laterally; 11) paired inscriptional ribs not joining one another on midventral line; 12) sternal fontanelle large; 14) free xiphisternal rods rarely present. The head scales are not well differentiated. A parietal eye is evidenced by an unpigmented spot on the interparietal of some species, but it is absent or only sometimes present in others. A continuous vertebral scale row is present or absent and in some species is modified so as to form a distinct dorsal crest. The dorsal scales are imbricate over the entire dorsum or only in the paravertebral region. The lateral body scales are nearly equal in size to the dorsal scales or are much smaller. An antehumeral fold lined with granular or imbricate scales is present only in some species. The scales on the posterior surfaces of the thighs are imbricate or granular. The caudal scales are imbricate, keeled, enlarged, and spinose. The species with spinose tails usually have only two whorls of scales between autonomic points of the tail. Males of many species have yellow or black coloration on the ventral surfaces of the thighs and pelvic region. Sexual dimorphism in dorsal and ventral coloration is present in some species.
I have never seen any of these species offered in the pet trade, and husbandry information on them seems very scarce. The closest I have seen is a passing reference to S. crassicaudataus in Bosch and Werning. Fritts notes “Some species of Stenocercus are comparable in their ecology to North American fence lizards of the genus Sceloporus, whereas others are more nearly equivalent to species in the North American genera Sator and Petrosaurus.”
It is quite possible that the restricted ranges of many Stenocercus species makes captive keeping by private hobbyists unfeasible, but for the commoner species there may well be an opportunity here to contribute to the knowledge of species husbandry.
|
QUICK INDEX |
|
S. apurimacus, Fritts’ Whorltail Iguana |
||
S. boettgeri, Boettger’s Whorltail Iguana |
S. bolivarensis, Bolivar Whorltail Iguana |
|
S. carrioni, Parker's Whorltail Iguana |
||
S. chinchaoensis, Chinchao Whorltail Lizard |
||
S. chrysopygus, Golden Whorltail Iguana |
S. crassicaudatus, Spiny Whorl-Tailed Iguana |
|
S. cupreus, Copper Whorltail Iguana |
||
S. empretus, Rock Whorltail Iguana |
||
S. festae, Peracca’s Whorltail Iguana |
||
S. fimbriatus, Western Leaf Lizard |
S. formosus, Formosa Whorltail Iguana |
|
S. guentheri, Günther’s Whorltail Iguana |
S. haenschi, Haensch’s Whorltail Iguana |
|
S. humeralis, Patterned Whorltail Iguana |
||
S. ivitus, Ivy Whorltail Iguana |
||
S. melanopygus, Dark Whorltail Iguana |
S. modestus, Modest Whorltail Iguana |
|
S. nigromaculatus, Black-Spotted Whorltail Iguana |
S. nubicola, Cloud Whorltail Iguana |
|
S. ochoa, Ochoa Whorltail Iguana |
S. orientalis, Eastern Whorltail Iguana |
|
S. ornatissimus, Eastern Whorltail Iguana |
S. ornatus, Girard’s Whorltail Iguana |
|
S. praeornatus, Greater Ornate Whorltail Iguana |
||
S. rhodomelas, Red-Black Whorltail Iguana |
S. roseiventris, Rose Whorltail Iguana |
|
S. simonsii, Simons’ Whorltail Iguana |
||
S. trachycephalus, Dumeril’s Whorltail Iguana |
||
S. variabilis, Variable Whorltail Iguana |
S. varius, Keeled Whorltail Iguana |
|
Scientific Name |
Common Name |
Distribution |
Size |
Notes |
Stenocercus |
||||
|
E Ecuador, E Peru, Bolivia |
TL approx 36 cm, SVL approx 11 cm |
Formerly assigned to Ophryessoides. Description: upper head-scales large, smooth or feebly striated; nostril perfectly lateral; nasal usually separated from the rostral; supraorbitals in contact; supraoculars three or four large transverse, separated from the supraorbitals by a series of small scales; a smaller anterior and a larger posterior parietal on each side, separated by three shields, viz. a pair of interparietals and an occipital; supratemporal edge with two projecting scales. Sides of neck not folded, covered with sharply pointed, imbricate, keeled scales. Dorsal crest a low serrated ridge; a weaker lateral crest on each side of the back. Dorsal scales keeled only on their posterior half; lateral scales similar; ventrals a little larger, strongly keeled, ending in a long sharp point; thirty-three to forty-one scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the anterior border of the orbit. Tail very long, compressed, with serrated upper edge. Coloration: bronzed green or brown above, with more or less distinct angular darker cross lines on the back and vertical bars on the sides; lower surfaces green or bronzy, belly sometimes pinkish ; the male's throat black. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
Brazil |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Ecuador |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fritts’ Whorltail Iguana |
Peru |
|
Found in xeric habitats. Description: posthumeral pocket deep; 2) postfemoral pocket absent; 4) scales posterior to tympanum equal in size to dorsal neck scales, keeled, imbricate; 5) scales on posterior thigh keeled, imbricate; 6) vertebral row continuous, forming high dorsal crest extending onto tail; 7) caudal scales equal in size to ventrals, three caudal whorls per autonomic segment; 8) antehumeral fold absent; 9) neck fold absent; 10) scales around middle of body less than 62; 11) scales across gular region between tympana less than 27; 13) venter of males gray-beige to gray with a blue hue; 17) posterior head scales large, wider than long, rounded posteriorly, a pair of large parietals in broad contact posterior to small interparietal. Coloration (males): dorsum red-brown to medium brown with few indistinct black chevrons; narrow black collar edged posteriorly with white across lateral and dorsal neck; labial scales near the angle of the jaw black; chin white with few grey flecks; venter beige-white with faint blue or pink tint in some specimens; ventral pelvic region, ventral base of tail and ventral thighs dull yellow: (females): dorsum brown with gold-bronze tint; dorsal and lateral surfaces of the neck gold-brown; chin and gular region black posterior to level of insertion of forelimb; chin white medially in some specimens; black collar absent; dorsal chevrons less distinct than those of males; venter grey-white. [SOURCE: Fritts 1972] |
|
La Granja Whorltail Lizard |
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
S Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina |
TL 20.5 cm, SVL 7.5 cm |
Description: very closely allied to S. pectinatus, with which it agrees entirely in coloration; differing in the following characters: gular and ventral scales keeled, ending in a short spine. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear. Digits longer; third and fourth fingers nearly equal. Tail: longer, about once and two thirds as long as head and body. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
Boettger’s Whorltail Iguana |
N/C Peru |
TL 22.5 cm, SVL approx 7 cm |
Description: no pterygoid teeth. Anterior border of ear with four or five conical scales forming a denticulation. Middle supraocular scales not or but little enlarged transversely; no enlarged occipital. Sides of neck irregularly folded; a transverse fold in front of the collar, which is broadly interrupted in the middle. Body depressed; a slight dorsal denticulation or low vertebral crest. Nuchal and lateral scales very small, granular, feebly keeled; dorsal scales much larger, rhomboidal, subimbricate, strongly keeled, not mucronate, merging into the caudals, the keels forming oblique lines converging posteriorly. Gular and ventral scales rhomboidal, imbricate, smooth, the ventrals as large as or a little larger than the dorsals. The hind limb, stretched forwards, reaches the ear, or between the shoulder and the ear; fifth toe not extending as far as second. Tail: once and a half to once and three-fourths as long as head and body, rounded, tapering; caudal scales large, strongly keeled, not or but very shortly mucronate, arranged in rings. Coloration: olive above, with more or less distinct darker cross-bars accompanied by transverse series of small pale greenish spots; a black band on the collar-fold; throat marbly bluish green; belly pink. [SOURCE: Boulenger 1911] |
|
Bolivar Whorltail Iguana |
Colombia |
|
|
|
|
Ecuador |
|
|
|
|
Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina |
SVL approx 8 cm, TL 24 cm |
Description: head-scales numerous, small, keeled; nostrils lateral, below the canthus rostralis. A slight preaxillary fold. Median dorsal keel forming a low crest on the nape. Scales of the body large, flat, caducous, keeled everywhere; the dorsal in posteriorly convergent series. The adpressed hind limb reaches the anterior border of the orbit. Third and fourth toes nearly equal. Coloration: above brown, with numerous dark brown chevrons, the angles directed posteriorly; a narrow, vertical, yellow line from the axilla; extremities and tail cross-banded; beneath yellowish brown, the throat darker, light-varied. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
Brazil |
|
|
|
Parker's Whorltail Iguana |
S Ecuador |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
Chinchao Whorltail Lizard |
C Peru |
|
|
|
|
N Peru |
|
|
|
|
Ecuador |
|
|
|
Golden Whorltail Iguana |
W Peru |
|
|
|
Spiny Whorltail Iguana |
SE Peru |
|
|
|
Copper Whorltail Iguana |
C Peru |
TL 21 cm, SVL 7.5 cm |
Description: pterygoid teeth. Anterior border of ear denticulated. Median supraocular scales slightly broader than long; occipital indistinct temporal scales obtusely keeled. Side of neck with two oblique folds, the antehumeral strongest and with a serrated edge on its lower half. Body round. A scarcely distinct dorsal denticulation. Dorsal scales large, strongly imbricate, sharply keeled, ending in a short spine; the keels forming continuous lines, which are slightly oblique on the posterior part of the back; lateral scales smaller, feebly keeled. Scales under the neck larger than gulars and ventrals, which are rhomboidal, imbricate, smooth, and much smaller than dorsals. The adpressed hind limb reaches a little beyond the ear; fifth toe not extending as far as second. Tail: nearly twice as long as head and body, tapering, slightly compressed; caudal scales a little larger than dorsals, keeled, spinose, forming rings. (Note: the measurements given in Boulenger for this species are somewhat confusing, as head and body together are recorded as 7.5 cm, “Total length” is given as 110 mm, but then “Tail” is given as 135 mm). Coloration: greyish-brown above with coppery gloss, and with small irregular dark brown spots ; lower surfaces yellowish white. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Paraguay, Argentina |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
N Brazil |
|
Description: apparently allied to the S. tricristatus. The supraciliary crest ends in a large pyramid-shaped tubercle; temple with large tubercular shields. Coloration: light yellowish-brown above; a series of triangular dark reddish-brown spots on each side of the dorsal line. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Colombia, Venezuela |
SVL 6 cm |
Description: upper head-scales large, unicarinate; nostril superior; four or five large transverse supraoculars. Neck slightly folded upon its sides. Dorsal crest low. Scales upon back, sides, and abdomen large, broader than long, strongly keeled. Tail cyclotetragonal at the base. Coloration: head, back, and extremities brownish; beneath of the same colour, except upon chin and throat and sides of abdomen, which are of a beautiful pink-red colour. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
N Peru |
|
|
|
Peracca’s Whorltail Iguana |
Ecuador |
|
|
|
Western Leaf Lizard |
Peru, Brazil |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
Formosa Whorltail Iguana |
Peru |
TL approx 16.5 cm, SVL approx 6.5 cm |
Description: upper head-scales small, convex, smooth; four transversely dilated supraoculars. Sides of neck strongly plicate. Dorsal crest a slight ridge. Dorsal scales rather large, the keels directed obliquely towards the vertebral line; ventrals as large as dorsals, smooth. Tail roundish. Coloration: dark olive above, with a few large black spots on the sides of the vertebral line and across the tail; throat black; chest, flanks, and limbs inferiorly metallic blue-green; belly greyish. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
C Peru |
|
|
|
Günther’s Whorltail Iguana |
Colombia, Ecuador |
TL 25 cm, SVL 8.5 cm |
Description: upper head-scales small, unicarinate; nasal separated from the rostral; no large supraoculars; ear-opening with a more or less distinct denticulation in front. Sides of neck not distinctly plicate, covered with pointed, imbricate, keeled scales. Dorsal crest a low serrated ridge. Dorsal scales small, not or but scarcely mucronate, strongly keeled, the keels forming slightly oblique continuous lines; laterals and ventrals as large as dorsals; latter rhomboidal, smooth; sixty-one to seventy-five scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the shoulder or the ear. Tail: moderately compressed, with feebly serrated ridge. Coloration: olive- or bronze-green, uniform or with lighter or darker spots; lower surfaces metallic, sometimes marbled with blackish: throat usually green; males usually with a black band across the throat, sometimes extending to the chest; sometimes a small black spot on the shoulder. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
Haensch’s Whorltail Iguana |
Ecuador |
|
|
|
|
N Peru |
|
|
|
Patterned Whorltail Iguana |
Ecuador, N Peru |
TL approx 18 cm, SVL approx 8 cm |
Description: no pterygoid teeth. Anterior border of ear denticulated. Median supraocular scales slightly broader than long; occipital indistinct. Sides and lower surface of neck irregularly folded. Body depressed. A vertebral denticulation. Dorsal scales very small, rhomboidal, imbricate, keeled, not mucronate, the keels obliquely converging towards the vertebral line; nuchal and lateral scales minute, granular, obtusely keeled; gular scales granular; ventral scales considerably larger than the largest dorsals, rhomboidal, imbricate, smooth. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear or not quite so far; fifth toe reaching nearly as far as second. Tail: a little longer than head and body, rounded, tapering, covered with rings of strongly keeled scales about the size of the ventrals. Coloration: upper parts bluish-green, marbled with dark brown; a black transverse band, interrupted on the vertebral line, extends from one antehumeral fold to the other; throat bluish-green, with round lighter spots; lower surfaces greenish yellow. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Colombia, W Ecuador, NW Peru |
TL 21 cm, SVL 5.5 cm |
See Reptile Database entry for note on distribution. Description: upper head-scales large, smooth; nostril superior; nasal separated from the rostral; supraorbitals in contact; four or five large transverse supraoculars, usually separated from the supraorbitals by a series of small scales; a smaller anterior and a larger posterior parietal on each side; an interparietal and an occipital, separated by a pair of larger shields. Sides of neck not folded, covered with sharply pointed, imbricate, keeled scales. Dorsal crest low. Dorsal scales not very strongly keeled; lateral scales scarcely smaller; ventrals a little larger, pointed, smooth, or feebly keeled; 37-43 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the eye or the anterior border of the orbit. Tail: strongly compressed, crested like the back. Coloration: bronzy green above, darker on the sides, with a more or less distinct lighter dorsolateral streak; back usually with angular black markings, pointing backwards ; a black collar or two large black spots under the neck; throat and belly rose-coloured; chest yellow. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
Ivy Whorltail Iguana |
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Colombia |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
SW Ecuador, NW Peru |
|
|
|
|
C Bolivia, Argentina |
TL approx 11.5 cm, SVL approx 4 cm |
Description: no pterygoid teeth. Ear-opening with two tubercular scales in front. Sides of neck folded, studded with small tubercles. Body subcylindrical. No dorsal denticulation. Dorsal scales transversely rhomboidal, keeled, not mucronate, the keels obliquely converging towards the dorsal line; gular and ventral scales imbricate, smooth the latter a little broader than long. Hind hmb with large, strongly keeled, spinose scales; when stretched forwards, it reaches hardly the ear; fifth toe reaching as far as second. Tail: a little longer than head arid body, thick, conical, slightly depressed at the base, covered with whorls of large spinose scales. Coloration: upper surfaces fulvous; back marbled with brown; limbs and tail with transverse brown bands; lower surfaces white. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
Dark Whorltail Iguana |
N Peru |
|
|
|
Modest Whorltail Iguana |
WC Peru |
TL approx 15.5 cm, SVL approx 6 cm |
Description: no pterygoid teeth. Anterior border of ear denticulated. A series of broad supraoculars; occipital very small; temporal scales obtusely keeled. Scales on the sides of the neck strongly keeled and a little larger than those on fhe temples; a slight longitudinal fold behind the ear, and a small granular pit in front of the antehumeral fold; latter short, and with a denticulation formed by three or four large scales. Body subquadrangular. No dorsal denticulation. Dorsal scales large, rhomboidal, strongly imbricate, sharply keeled, not mucronate; the keels forming continuous straight lines; lateral scales a little smaller and less strongly keeled. Gular and ventral scales smaller than dorsals, rhomboidal, imbricate, smooth. The adpressed hind limb reaches the eye; toes very long, fifth not extending as far as second. Tail: rounded, long, with rings of scales similar to, and not longer than, the dorsals. Coloration: dark olive above, spotted all over with whitish ; supraciliary edge, and a streak from below the eye to above the ear, whitish; lower surfaces greenish white. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
Black-Spotted Whorltail Iguana |
|
|
|
|
Cloud Whorltail Iguana |
Peru |
|
|
|
Ochoa Whorltail Iguana |
Peru |
|
|
|
|
N Peru |
|
|
|
Eastern Whorltail Iguana |
Peru |
|
|
|
Lesser Ornate Whorltail Iguana |
W Peru |
TL 13.5 cm |
Originally assigned to Saccodeira and then Proctotretus. Description: upper head-scales multicarinate; front edge of ear with two projecting scales. Sides of neck pouched, covered with small scales and granules within the pouches; a vertico-oblique fold in front of the shoulder. Dorsal scales moderate, rhombic, conspicuously keeled, forming longitudinal series, the median exhibiting an inconspicuous crest or ridge, formed by somewhat more developed keels than those of the adjoining series; lateral scales smaller, with the keels directed obliquely upwards; ventral scales somewhat smaller than, dorsals, subrhomboidal, smooth. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear. Tail: once and a half as long as head and body, slender and tapering, thick and depressed at the base, then slightly compressed and conical posteriorly. Coloration: greyish brown above, with a double series of dark brown subtriangular spots along the dorsal region; limbs maculated; upper surface of head blackish; sides and under surface of latter whitish, with small jet-black spots; abdomen uniform dull yellow. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
Girard’s Whorltail Iguana |
W Ecuador, NW Peru |
TL 23.5 cm, SVL 8 cm |
Description: upper head-scales small, keeled or striated; nasal separated from the rostral; no large supraoculars. Sides of neck not plicate, covered with pointed, imbricate, keeled scales. A well-developed dorsal crest. Dorsal scales large, strongly mucronate, strongly keeled, the keels forming continuous straight longitudinal lines; laterals and ventrals a little smaller; latter smooth; forty-three scales round the middle of the body. Gular scales as large as dorsals. The adpressed hind limb reaches the eye. Tail: strongly compressed, the crest not quite as much developed as the dorsal. Coloration: olive above, with ill-defined darker spots ; a large black spot on the shoulder; throat and breast greenish; chin and belly black. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
Argentina |
TL 17 cm, SVL 8 cm |
Description: habit rather stout. Snout short. Upper head-scales imbricate, strongly keeled; front edge of ear with two or three projecting scales. Sides of neck not distinctly plicate, covered with large, imbricate, pointed keeled scales; a very small oblique fold or pit in front of the shoulder. Dorsal scales large, rhomboidal, pointed, sharply keeled, the keels ending in short spines, and forming continuous longitudinal lines; those of the vertebral series and of the fifth or sixth series on each side of the latter stronger, and forming three slight pectinate crests. Gular and ventral scales smaller, rhomboidal, imbricate, smooth, emarginate posteriorly. The adpressed hind limb reaches the axil in the female, halfway between the shoulder and the ear in the male; digits rather short, fourth finger considerably shorter than third. Tail: a little longer than head and body, conical, tapering, scaled like the body. Coloration: brownish above; back with three rows of regular light-edged, dark brown spots; some of the dorsal scales emerald-green; a transverse brown band between the eye; lateral crest yellowish white; flanks with one or two series of large dark-brown spots, and a more or less distinct whitish streak from axilla to groin; a white dark-edged streak along the back of the thigh; lower surfaces whitish. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
Greater Ornate Whorltail Iguana |
N/C Peru |
|
|
|
|
Peru, Bolivia |
|
|
|
|
SW Ecuador, NW Peru |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
Described in 2022: see Reptile Database entry. |
|
|
Brazil |
|
|
|
Red-Black Whorltail Iguana |
S Ecuador |
|
|
|
Rose Whorltail Iguana |
Brazil, E Peru, Bolivia, N Argentina |
TL approx 18 cm, SVL approx 9 cm |
Description: pterygoid teeth. No denticulation on the anterior border of the ear. Interorbital space slightly grooved. Supraocular region with five or six longitudinal series of scales, the two median of which are slightly broader than long ; occipital scale scarcely larger than the surrounding ones. Sides of neck longitudinally folded. A vertebral denticulation. Body subtriangular. Dorsal scales transversely rhomboidal, keeled, the keels obliquely converging towards the median line: lateral and ventral scales smooth. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear; fifth toe not extending as far as second. Tail: a little longer than head and body, thick, compressed, with sharp upper edge; it is covered with whorls of alternately larger and smaller keeled scales, the larger of which are spinose. Coloration: olive above; throat marbled grey and white; belly pink. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
Colombia |
|
|
|
|
E Peru |
TL 21 cm, SVL 7 cm* |
*Size indicated here may not be truly indicative, as Boulenger suggested that the specimen he examined was “probably immature”. Description: upper head-scales moderately large, feebly keeled or striated; nostril superolateral; nasal separated from the nostril by one series of scales; four transversely enlarged supraoculars, separated from the supraorbitals by one series and from the supraciliaries by three series of scales; a pair of interparietals followed by two occipitals; parietals broken up into small shields; a feebly serrated ridge above the temple ; two or three feebly projecting scales on the anterior border of the ear. Sides of neck not folded, covered with small, imbricate, keeled scales. A feeble but very distinct dorsal crest; a weaker lateral crest on each side of the anterior part of the back and on the sacral region. Dorsal scales moderately large, pointed, smooth; lateral scales smaller, feebly keeled; ventral scales as large as dorsals, strongly keeled; 57 scales round the middle of the body. Gular scales as large as dorsals, strongly keeled. The hind limb, stretched forwards, reaches the nostril. Tail: scarcely compressed, with a serrated upper edge at the base. Coloration: greyish brown above, with a series of chevron-shaped darker markings pointing backwards; scapular region dark brown, sharply defined above and behind by an angulate white line; a large round dark brown spot between the shoulders; a broad dark brown, white-edged streak, widening beneath, extending obliquely backwards from the eye to the edge of the mouth; greyish beneath, with white spots whitish annuli on the tail. [SOURCE: Boulenger 1901] |
|
Simons’ Whorltail Iguana |
S Ecuador |
|
|
|
|
Brazil |
|
|
|
|
Brazil |
|
|
|
|
Peru |
|
|
|
|
C Peru |
TL approx 16.5 cm, SVL approx 8 cm |
Description: no pterygoid teeth. Anterior border of ear tubercular. Median supraocular scales slightly broader than long; occipital indistinct. Sides and lower surface of neck irregularly folded. Body subtriangular. No dorsal denticulation. Nuchal, lateral, and anterior dorsal scales very small, subgranular, obtusely keeled; on the posterior half of the back the scales become gradually much larger, rhomboidal, broader than long, keeled, not mucronate. Gular scales granular; ventrals rhomboidal, imbricate, smooth, much larger than the anterior dorsals, but smaller than the posterior. The adpressed hind limb reaches the antehumeral fold; fifth toe reaching as far as second. Tail: scarcely longer than head and body, feebly compressed, with whorls of large spinose scales. Coloration: upper surfaces and throat dark olive; a black transverse band on the dorsal surface from one antehumeral fold to the other; pectoral region blue; belly pinkish white. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
Dumeril’s Whorltail Iguana |
Colombia |
TL approx 24 cm, SVL approx 7.5 cm |
Description: upper head-scales small, unicarinate; nasal separated from the rostral; no large supraoculars; no distinct denticulation on the anterior border of the ear. Sides of neck not distinctly plicate, covered with pointed, imbricate, keeled scales. Dorsal crest a low serrated ridge. Dorsal scales moderately large, scarcely mucronate, strongly keeled, the keels forming continuous straight longitudinal lines; laterals a little smaller; ventrals nearly as large as dorsals, rhomboidal, smooth; forty-seven scales round the middle of the body. Gular scales smaller than dorsals. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear. Tail: moderately compressed, with slightly serrated ridge. Coloration: bronze-olive above, metallic green inferiorly; belly and a band across the throat black. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
|
SE Brazil |
SVL 6 cm, TL 16 cm |
Description: a strong supraciliary crest; upper head-scales small, keeled; nostril lateral. Sides of neck not folded. Dorsal and ventral scales large, keeled. Dorsal crest a low serrated ridge; another similar ridge on each side of the back. Tail: feebly compressed. Coloration: light brown above; back with transverse, brown, yellow-edged bands; similar vertical bands on the sides. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
Variable Whorltail Iguana |
Peru, NW Bolivia |
TL approx 26 cm, SVL approx 9 cm |
Description: pterygoid teeth. Anterior border of ear denticulated. Upper head-scales smooth; some of the supraoculars feebly enlarged transversely; occipital not enlarged ; temporal scales feebly keeled. Side of neck with folds enclosing shallow pockets covered with granular scales; antehumeral fold very strong with a serrated edge on its lower half. Body depressed. A very slight dorsal crest. Dorsal scales rather large, strongly imbricate, sharply keeled, shortly mucronate; the keels forming continuous lines, which are parallel or slightly oblique on the posterior part of the back; lateral scales passing gradually into the smaller smooth ventrals; 67-69 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear or a little beyond; fifth toe not extending as far as second. Tail: about twice as long as head and body, tapering, scarcely compressed, the scales a little larger than on the body, and forming rings. Coloration: green, spotted with whitish on the sides, or greyish, spotted with black above and on the sides or on the sides only; whitish beneath, throat marbled with olive; one specimen with a black bar across the scapular region and the throat and belly nearly entirely black. [SOURCE: Boulenger 1901] |
|
Keeled Whorltail Iguana |
Ecuador |
SVL approx 6.5 cm, TL approx 18.5 cm |
Description: no pterygoid teeth. Anterior border of ear slightly denticulated. Supraocular scales, median series much broader than long; occipital not enlarged. Sides and lower surface of neck strongly folded. Body depressed. No dorsal denticulation. Dorsal scales small, rhomboidal, imbricate, keeled, not mucronate, nearly as large as the ventrals; the keels forming slightly oblique lines. Gular scales smaller than ventrals, obtusely keeled, imbricate; ventral scales rhomboidal, imbricate, smooth. The adpressed hind limb reaches halfway between the ear and the eye; fifth toe extending nearly as far as second. Tail: nearly twice as long as head and body, rounded, tapering; caudal scales strongly keeled, not mucronate, of moderate size, larger than those on the body, arranged in rings. Coloration: upper surfaces dark bluish-grey, marbled with black; tail with black cross bars; lower surfaces bluish-grey ; belly a little lighter. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
|
“A multivariate evolutionary analysis of the Andean iguanid lizards of the genus Stenocercus”, Thomas H Fritts, San Diego Society of Natural History, Memoir 7, 1-89, June 21 1974.