Added 14 November 2022.

A look at the

Genus Liolaemus – Snow Swifts and Tree Iguanas

Family LIOLAEMIDAE [LIOLAEMINAE]



Genus Liolaemus – Snow Swifts

A large genus (as of October 2022, 287 species, according to the Reptile Database) of lizards distributed in the Americas south of the equator. As per one author, these are in some ways the South American equivalent of the North American Sceloporus.

Boulenger gives the following characteristics of the genus: tympanum distinct. Body depressed; no dorsal crest. Dorsal scales more or less imbricate, keeled. Upper head-scales small or rather large. No fold across the throat; no gular appendage. Digits subcylindrical, with keeled lamellae inferiorly. No femoral pores. Male with anal pores. Tail conical or slightly depressed. Lateral teeth tricuspid; pterygoid teeth. Sternal fontanelle present or absent *. No abdominal ribs.

These lizards have sometimes been seen in the pet trade, though I am not sure if I have ever seen them in the UK. Husbandry details, or at least suggestions, can be found in Hunziker: so far I have not been able to find many other sources. Bosch and Werning have details on the genus as a whole and individual entries for L. bisignatus, L. lemniscatus, L. tenuis and L. zapallarensis (in the book, described as L. kuhlmanni). Hunziker gives suggestions for L. leopardinus, L. nigromaculatus and L. tenuis. Rogner carries husbandry information for L. tenuis. Part of the challenge in dealing with Liolaemus species seems to be that while their South American origin may evoke mental pictures of rainforests, many of the species listed here live in quite different habitats and at high altitudes where temperatures may be quite low or fluctuate considerably between day and night. This reinforces the normal requirement for a keeper to understand the geographical origin and habitat of an animal.

Owing to the sheer size of the genus, this page may take some time to complete. The Reptile Database has details of all the currently known species, and Wikipedia is also useful for many of them.


QUICK INDEX


L. abaucan

L. abdalai

L. absconditus

L. acostai

L. albiceps

L. alticolor, Brilliant Tree Iguana

L. andinus, Andes Tree Iguana

L. annectens

L. anomalus

L. anqapuka

L. antonietae, Antonieta's Lizard

L. antumalguen

L. aparicioi

L. arambarensis

L. araucaniensis

L. archeforus, Main Tree Iguana

L. atacamensis

L. audituvelatus

L. aureum, Golden Lizard

L. austromendocinus, Austromendocino Tree Iguana

L. avilai

L. azarai

L. baguali

L. balagueri

L. balerion

L. basadrei

L. belli

L. bibronii, Bibron's Tree Iguana

L. bitaeniatus, Striped Tree Iguana

L. boulengeri, Boulenger's Tree Iguana

L. brizuelai

L. buergeri, Buerger's Tree Iguana

L. burmeisteri

L. calchaqui

L. calliston

L. canqueli

L. caparensis

L. capillitas, Hulse's Tree Iguana

L. carlosgarini, Garin's Lizard

L. casamiquelai

L. cazianiae

L. chacabucoense

L. chacoensis, Chaco Tree Iguana

L. chaltin

L. chavin

L. chehuachekenk

L. chiliensis

L. chillanensis, Peak Tree Iguana

L. chiribaya

L. chlorostictus

L. chungara

L. cinereus

L. coeruleus, Blue Tree Iguana

L. confusus

L. constanzae, Constanz's Tree Iguana

L. crandalli

L. cranwelli, Cranwell's Tree Iguana

L. crepuscularis

L. cristiani

L. curicensis, Curicen Tree Iguana

L. curis

L. cuyanus

L. cuyumhue

L. cyaneinotatus

L. cyanogaster, Cyan Tree Iguana

L. darwinii, Darwin's Tree Iguana

L. diaguita

L. dicktraceyi

L. disjunctus

L. ditadai

L. donosobarrosi, Donoso-Barros' Tree Iguana

L. dorbignyi, Dorbigny's Tree Iguana

L. duellmani, Duellman's Tree Iguana

L. dumerili

L. eleodori, Eleodor's Tree Iguana

L. elongatus, Elongate Tree Iguana

L. erguetae

L. erroneus

L. escarchadosi

L. espinozai

L. etheridgei

L.evaristoi

L. exploratum

L. fabiani, Fabian's Tree Iguana

L. famatinae

L. fittkaui

L. fitzgeraldi, Fitzgerald's Tree Iguana

L. fitzingeri, Fitzinger's Tree Iguana

L. flavipiceus

L. forsteri, Forster's Tree Iguana

L. foxi, Fox's Lizard

L. frassinettii

L. fuscus, Brown Tree Iguana

L. galactostictos

L. gallardoi

L. gardeli

L. goetschi

L. gracielae

L. gracilis, Graceful Tree Iguana

L. gravenhorstii, Gravenhorst's Tree Iguana

L. griseus, Grey Tree Iguana

L. grosseorum

L. gununakuna

L. hajeki, Hajek's Lizard

L. halonastes

L. hatcheri

L. hauthali

L. heliodermis

L. hellmichi, Hellmich's Tree Iguana

L. hermannunezi

L. huacahuasicus

L. huayra

L. hugoi

L. igneus, Puna Reddish Lizard

L. inacayali

L. incaicus

L. insolitus

L. inti

L. irregularis

L. isabelae

L. islugensis, Panther Tree Iguana

L. jamesi, James' Tree Lizard

L. janequeoae, Janequeo's Tree Lizard

L. josei

L. juanortizi

L. kingii, King's Tree Iguana

L. kolengh

L. koslowskyi

L. kriegi, Krieg's Tree Iguana

L. kunza

L. laurenti

L. lavillai

L. leftrarui, Leftraru's Tree Iguana

L. lemniscatus, Wreath Tree Iguana

L. lentus

L. lenzi, Lenz's Tree Iguana

L. leopardinus, Leopard Tree Iguana

L. lineomaculatus, Decorated Tree Iguana

L. loboi

L. lonquimayensis

L. lopezi

L. lorenzmuelleri, Lorenz's Tree Iguana

L. lutzae, Lutz's Tree Iguana

L. magellicanus

L. maldonadae

L. mapuche

L. martorii

L. melaniceps

L. melanogaster

L. melanopleurus

L. melanops

L. meraxes

L. messii

L. millcayac

L. molinai

L. montanezi

L. montanus, Mountain Tree Iguana

L. monticola, Peak Tree Iguana

L. moradoensis

L. morandae

L. morenoi

L. multicolor, Many-Coloured Tree Iguana

L. multiformis

L. multimaculatus, Many-Spotted Tree Iguana

L. nazca

L. neuquensis

L. nigriceps, Black Tree Iguana

L. nigromaculatus, Many-Spotted Tree Iguana

L. nigroviridis, Black-Green Tree Iguana

L. nitidus, Shining Tree Iguana

L. normae, Norma's Tree Iguana

L. occipitalis, Skull Tree Iguana

L. olongasta

L. omorfi, Beautiful Lizard

L. orko

L. ornatus, Ornate Tree Iguana

L. ortizii, Ortiz's Tree Iguana

L. pacha

L. pachacutec

L. pachecoi

L. pagaburoi

L. pantherinus, Panther Tree Iguana

L. parthenos

L. parvus

L. patriciaiturrae

L. paulinus, Paulina's Tree Iguana

L. petrophilus

L. pictus, Painted Tree Iguana

L. pikunche

L. pipanaco

L. platei, Braided Tree Iguana

L. pleopholis

L. poconchilensis

L. poecilochromus

L. polystictus

L. porosus

L. pseudoanomalus

L. pseudolemniscatus

L. puelche

L. pulcherrimus

L. puna

L. punmahuida

L. puritamensis

L. purul

L. pyriphlogos

L. qalaywa

L. quilmes

L. quinterosi

L. rabinoi, Rabino's Tree Iguana

L. ramirezae

L. reichi, Stolzmann's Pacific Iguana

L. riojanus

L. robertmertensi, Robert's Tree Iguana

L. robertoi, Roberto's Lizard

L. robustus

L. rosenmanni

L. rothi, Roth's Sand Iguana

L. ruibali, Ruibal's Tree Iguana

L. sagei

L. salinicola

L. salitrosus

L. sanjuanensis, San Juan Tree Iguana

L. sarmientoi

L. saxatilis

L. scapularis, Shoulder Tree Iguana

L. schmidti, Schmidt's Tree Iguana

L. schroederi, Schroeder's Tree Iguana

L. scolaroi

L. scorialis, Slag Lizard

L. scrocchii

L. senguer

L. septentrionalis

L. shehuen

L. shitan

L. signifer, Zodiac Tree Iguana

L. silvai

L. silvanae

L. sitesi

L. smaug

L. somuncurae

L. stolzmanni, Stolzmann's Pacific Iguana

L. tacnae

L. tacora, Tacora Lizard

L. tajzara

L. talampaya

L. tandiliensis

L. tari

L. tehuelche

L. telsen

L. tenuis, Thin Tree Iguana

L. teranis

L. thermarum, Las Damas River Lizard

L. thomasi

L. tirantii

L. tolhuaca, Tolhuaca Lizard

L. torresi, Torres-Mura Dragon

L. tregenzai

L. tristis

L. tromen

L. tulkas

L. ubaghsi, Ubaghs' Leopard Lizard

L. umbrifer

L. uniformis

L. uptoni

L. uspallatensis, Macola's Tree Iguana

L. valdesianus

L. vallecurensis

L. variegatus, Variegated Tree Iguana

L. velosoi

L. vhagar

L. victormoralesii

L. villaricensis, Villarica Tree Iguana

L. vulcanus

L. walkeri, Walker's Tree Iguana

L. wari

L. warjantay

L. wiegmannii

L. williamsi

L. xanthoviridis

L. yalguaraz

L. yanalcu

L. yarabamba

L. yatel

L. yauri

L. zabalai

L. zapallarensis, Zapallaren Tree Iguana

L. zullyae




Scientific Name

Common Name

Distribution

Size

Notes

Liolaemus

L. abaucan


Argentina



L. abdalai


Argentina



L. absconditus


Argentina



L. acostai


Argentina



L. albiceps


Argentina



L. alticolor

Brilliant Tree Iguana

Bolivia, Chile, Peru



L. andinus

Andes Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. annectens


Peru, Argentina



L. anomalus


Argentina



L. anqapuka


Peru



L. antonietae

Antonieta's Lizard

Chile



L. antumalguen


Argentina



L. aparicioi


Bolivia



L. arambarensis


Brazil



L. araucaniensis


Chile, Argentina



L. archeforus

Main Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. atacamensis


Chile



L. audituvelatus


Chile



L. aureum

Golden Lizard

Chile



L. austromendocinus

Austromendocino Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. avilai


Argentina



L. azarai


Argentina



L. baguali


Argentina



L. balagueri


Peru



L. balerion


Argentina



L. basadrei


Peru



L. belli


Chile



L. bibronii

Bibron's Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina

TL 17.5 cm, SVL 7 cm

Description: nostril lateral. Upper head-scales rather small, smooth; a small azygous frontal, separated from the interparietal by a pair of frontoparietals; interparietal as large as, or a little smaller than, the parietals; a series of three enlarged supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales indistinctly keeled; ear-opening with a very indistinct denticulation in front. Sides of neck covered with very small scales, with an irregular longitudinal fold; a curved antehumeral fold. Dorsal scales moderate, rhomboidal, strongly keeled, ending in a sharp point; ventral scales nearly as large, but rounded and smooth; 50-58 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the axil in the female, in front of the shoulder in the male; hinder side of thighs uniformly granulate. Male with 2-3 anal pores. Tail: about once and a half as long as head and body; caudal scales as large as dorsals. Coloration: greyish olive above, spotted with dark brown, and with or without a black vertebral line, or dark olive with small pale greenish spots or dots; lower surfaces greyish, mottled with blackish, or blackish. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. bitaeniatus

Striped Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. boulengeri

Boulenger's Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. brizuelai


Argentina



L. buergeri

Buerger's Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina



L. burmeisteri


Argentina



L. calchaqui


Argentina



L. calliston


Argentina



L. canqueli


Argentina



L. caparensis


Argentina



L. capillitas

Hulse's Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. carlosgarini

Garin's Lizard

Chile



L. casamiquelai


Argentina



L. cazianiae


Argentina



L. chacabucoense


Chile, Argentina



L. chacoensis

Chaco Tree Iguana

Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina



L. chaltin


Bolivia, Argentina



L. chavin


Peru



L. chehuachekenk


Argentina



L. chiliensis


Chile, Argentina

TL approx 27 cm, SVL 9.5 cm

Description: closely allied to L. nitidus. Nostril quite lateral. Upper head-scales somewhat smaller, usually feebly striated; frontal frequently divided longitudinally; if undivided, hardly larger than the frontoparietals; interparietal and parietals subequal in size, or latter a little larger; temporal scales very feebly keeled; projecting scales in front of the ear-opening very small, scarcely distinct. The scales usually form 30-32 series round the middle of the body (24 and 26 in species f-g). Coloration: yellowish or greenish above, with metallic gloss and irregular dark brown marblings; a more or less distinct light band on each side, from the eye to the base of the tail; tail usually with three dark brown longitudinal lines, the median most defined; lower surfaces yellowish or greenish, with strong metallic gloss, constantly immaculate. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. chillanensis

Peak Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina



L. chiribaya


Peru



L. chlorostictus


Bolivia, Argentina



L. chungara


Peru, Chile



L. cinereus


Argentina



L. coeruleus

Blue Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina



L. confusus


Chile



L. constanzae

Constanze's Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina



L. crandalli


Argentina



L. cranwelli

Cranwell's Tree Iguana

Bolivia


Known only from the type specimen: see Reptile Database entry for details.

L. crepuscularis


Argentina



L. cristiani


Chile



L. curicensis

Curicen Tree Iguana

Chile



L. curis

Nuñez' Tree Iguana

Chile



L. cuyanus


Argentina



L. cuyumhue


Argentina



L. cyaneinotatus


Argentina



L. cyanogaster

Cyan Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina

TL approx 14 cm, SVL approx 5.5 cm

Description: nostril lateral. Upper head-scales rather small, striated; interorbital scales in 1-2 rows; interparietal small; parietals usually indistinct, if distinct larger than interparietal; a series of 4-5 enlarged supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbitals; temporal scales feebly keeled; 1-2 small scales project very slightly on the anterior border of the ear. Sides of neck covered with very small scales, with a strong longitudinal fold bifurcating towards the ear; a curved antehumeral fold. Dorsal scales large, rhomboidal, strongly keeled, ending in a sharp point or macro; ventral scales a little smaller, rounded, smooth; 40 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the axil in the female, the ear or slightly beyond in the male; hinder side of thighs uniformly granulate. Male with 2 anal pores. Tail: once and a half to twice as long as head and body; caudal scales nearly as large as dorsals. Coloration: olive or coppery brown above, with a few small blackish spots, and a light laterodorsal band; lower surfaces with strong metallic gloss, the throat and breast greenish or blue-green. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. darwinii

Darwin's Tree Iguana

Argentina

TL 12.5 cm, SVL 5 cm

Description: nostril latero-superior. Upper bead-scales small, convex, smooth; interparietal smaller than parietals; a series of 5-7 transverse supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales smooth; anterior border of ear not distinctly denticulated. Sides of neck granular, strongly folded; a curved antehumeral fold. Dorsal scales moderate, rhomboidal, obtusely pointed, strongly keeled, the keels forming continuous longitudinal lines; lateral scales smaller than dorsals; ventrals nearly as large as dorsals, obtusely pointed, smooth; 52-60 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the axil in the female, between the shoulder and the ear in the male; hinder side of thighs with a patch of rhomboidal keeled scales. Male with 7 anal pores. Tail: nearly once and a half as long as head and body; caudal scales as large as dorsals. Coloration: pale greyish brown above, with a series of transverse blackish spots on each side of the vertebral line, each of which is followed by a more or less distinct whitish spot or border; a more or less distinct light streak on each side of the back, and, in the female, another, edged with black, extending from axil to groin; a black spot above the shoulder and another in front of the arm; a white, black-edged streak on the hinder side of the thighs. Lower surfaces white, uniform or spotted with blackish. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. diaguita


Argentina



L. dicktraceyi


Argentina



L. disjunctus


Peru



L. ditadai


Argentina



L. donosobarrosi

Donoso-Barros' Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. dorbignyi

Dorbigny's Tree Iguana

Bolivia, Argentina



L. duellmani

Duellman's Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. dumerili


Argentina



L. eleodori

Eleodor's Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. elongatus

Elongate Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina



L. erguetae


Bolivia, Chile



L. erroneus


Chile


See Reptile Database entry for discussion.

L. escarchadosi


Chile, Argentina



L. espinozai


Argentina



L. etheridgei


Peru



L. evaristoi


Peru



L. exploratum


Argentina



L. fabiani

Fabian's Lizard

Chile



L. famatinae


Argentina



L. fittkaui


Bolivia



L. fitzgeraldi

Fitzgerald's Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina



L. fitzingeri

Fitzinger's Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina

TL approx 14.5 cm, SVL approx 8.5 cm

Description: very closely allied to L. kingi, from which it differs in a few points only : dorsal scales less strongly keeled and very obtusely pointed (76 scales round the middle of the body). A patch of enlarged rhomboidal scales on the hinder side of the thigh. Coloration: dark olive above, with blackish and whitish spots ; lower surface of neck, breast, and middle of belly black. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. flavipiceus


Chile, Argentina



L. forsteri

Forster's Tree Iguana

Bolivia



L. foxi

Fox's Lizard

Chile



L. frassinettii


Chile



L. fuscus

Brown Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina

TL approx 13.5 cm, SVL approx 5 cm

Description: upper head-scales perfectly smooth; interparietal a little larger than parietals, in contact with the frontals; frontoparietals very small and widely separated; the scale on the upper anterior border of the ear only a little larger than the preceding temporals. 50 scales round the middle of the body. Otherwise as in L. lemniscatus. Coloration: brown above, with two light lateral bands on each side, the interspace between them with closely-set blackish-brown spots; a black vertebral line and small black spots on the sides of the back; lower surfaces brownish, chin and sides of throat mottled with darker. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. galactostictos


Argentina



L. gallardoi


Argentina



L. gardeli


Uruguay



L. goetschi


Argentina



L. gracielae


Argentina



L. gracilis

Graceful Tree Iguana

Argentina

TL 16 cm, SVL 5.5 cm

Description: nostril lateral. Upper head-scales rather large, smooth; an azygous frontal, separated from the interparietal by a pair of frontoparietals ; interparietal smalle than parietals; a series of 3-4 enlarged supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales feebly keeled; 2-3 small projecting scales on the anterior border of the ear. Sides of neck with a very indistinct longitudinal fold, the scales imbricate, keeled, pointed, smaller than those on the upper surface. Dorsal scales large, rhomboidal, strongly keeled, pointed, the keels forming continuous longitudinal lines; ventral scales smaller, rounded, smooth; 40 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches halfway between the shoulder and the ear; hinder side of thighs uniformly granular. 4 anal pores. Tail about twice as long as head and body; caudal scales nearly as large as dorsals. Coloration: pale greyish olive above, uniform, or with small blackish dots on the sides; two light yellowish streaks on each side, the upper extending from the supraciliary edge to the base of the tail, the lower from the eye to the hind limb, passing on the upper border of the ear; a light line along the hind side of the thighs; lower surfaces whitish, throat mottled with brown. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. gravenhorstii

Gravenhorst's Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina

TL approx 17.5 cm, SVL approx 5.5 cm

Description: nostril quite lateral. Upper head-scales moderate, three pairs between the orbits ; interparietal smaller than parietals; a series of 3-4 enlarged supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales keeled ; 1-2 small projecting scales on the anterior border of the ear. Sides of neck not plicate, covered with large scales similar to those on the dorsal surface. Nuchal and dorsal scales large, rhomboidal, very strongly keeled, the keel ending in a short spine; ventral scales smaller than dorsals, rounded, smooth; 40 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the axil in the female, between the shoulder and the ear in the male; hinder side of thighs uniformly granulate. 2 anal pores in the male. Tail: more than twice as long as head and body; caudal scales a little smaller than dorsals. Coloration: coppery brown above, with four light golden bands, the upper extending from above the temple to the base of the tail, the lower from the ear to the groin ; in the female a few paired blackish spots between the light dorsal bands; lower surfaces pale golden. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. griseus

Grey Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. grosseorum


Argentina



L. gununakuna


Argentina



L. hajeki

Hajek's Lizard

Chile



L. halonastes


Argentina



L. hatcheri


Argentina



L. hauthali


Argentina



L. heliodermis


Argentina



L. hellmichi

Hellmich's Tree Iguana

Chile



L. hermannunezi


Chile, Argentina



L. huacahuasicus


Argentina



L. huayra


Argentina



L. hugoi


Argentina



L. igneus

Puna Reddish Lizard

Chile



L. inacayali


Argentina



L. incaicus


Peru



L. insolitus


Peru



L. inti


Argentina



L. irregularis


Argentina



L. isabelae


Chile



L. islugensis

Panther Tree Iguana

Bolivia, Chile



L. jamesi

James' Tree Iguana

Bolivia, S Peru, Chile



L. j. jamesi


Bolivia, Chile



L. j. aymararum


S Peru



L. janequeoae

Janequeo's Lizard

Chile



L. josei


Argentina



L. juanortizi


Chile



L. kingii

King's Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina

TL 15.5 cm, SVL 8 cm

Description: nostril lateral. Upper head-scales moderate, smooth or rugulose; 1-2 small azygous frontals, separated from the interparietal by a pair of fronto-parietals; interparietal as large as or a little smaller than parietals; a series of four or five enlarged supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbitals; temporal scales smooth; 1-2 very small lobules in front of the ear. Sides of neck with a longitudinal fold bifurcating towards the ear; a small curved antehumeral fold; scales small, granular. Dorsal scales small, rhomboidal, pointed, keeled; lateral scales as large or a little smaller; ventral scales nearly as large as dorsals, smooth, rounded; 66-76 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the shoulder in the male, the axil in the female; hinder side of thighs uniformly granular. Male with 6-8 anal pores. Tail: about as long as head and body; caudal scales as large as dorsals. Coloration: brown above, with dark and light transverse spots sometimes forming cross bands on the back; these may be interrupted by a light vertebral line. Lower surfaces whitish, mottled or marbled with blackish, sometimes entirely bluish-black. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. kolengh


Chile, Argentina



L. koslowskyi


Argentina



L. kriegi

Krieg's Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. kunza


Argentina



L. laurenti


Argentina



L. lavillai


Argentina



L. leftrarui

Leftraru's Lizard

Chile



L. lemniscatus

Wreath Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina

TL approx 13.5 cm, SVL approx 4.5 cm

Description: nostril lateral. Upper head-scales rather large, usually more or less distinctly striated; an azygous frontal, seldom divided longitudinally, separated from the interparietal by a pair of fronto-parietals; interparietal smaller than parietals; a series of 3-4 enlarged supraoculars ; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales keeled; 1-2 projecting scales on the anterior border of the ear, and a long narrow band-like scale on the supero-anterior border. Sides of neck with a feeble longitudinal fold, the scales imbricate, keeled, pointed, smaller than those on the upper surface. Dorsal scales large, rhomboidal, very strongly keeled, ending in a sharp point; ventral scales smaller, rounded, smooth; 42 or 44 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches hardly the axil in the female, the shoulder or a little beyond in the male; hinder side of thighs uniformly granulate. 2-4 anal pores in the male. Tail: about twice as long as head and body; caudal scales (except the basal ones) smaller than dorsals. Coloration: brownish above, with golden or coppery gloss; two light yellowish streaks on each side from the eye to the hind limb, the lower passing on the upper border of the tympanum; a series of transverse or angular blackish-brown spots on each side of the back, separated by the lighter vertebral zone, which is immaculate; seldom a black vertebral line; usually a series of black spots between the light lateral bands; a whitish streak or a series of whitish spots on the back of the thighs; lower surfaces yellowish white, immaculate or spotted with brown on the throat and breast. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. lentus


Argentina



L. lenzi

Lenz's Tree Iguana

Peru, Bolivia, Chile



L. leopardinus

Leopard Tree Iguana

Chile



L. lineomaculatus

Decorated Tree Iguana

Argentina

TL approx 12 cm, SVL approx 5.5 cm

Description: very closely related to L. magellicanus, which it resembles in proportions, size, and coloration, but to be distinguished by the following characters: temporal scales not distinctly keeled. Scales on the sides of the neck minute, granular. Scales of the body smaller, 54-60 round the middle; lateral scales smaller than dorsals and ventrals; dorsal scales shorter, simply pointed. The adpressed hind limb reaches nearly the axil in the female, the shoulder in the male. Coloration: pale olive or greyish above, with pale longitudinal streaks and blackish squarish spots arranged as in the preceding species; lower parts more or less abundantly spotted or marbled with blackish. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. loboi


Argentina



L. lonquimayensis


Chile



L. lopezi


Chile



L. lorenzmuelleri

Lorenz's Tree Iguana

Chile



L. lutzae

Lutz's Tree Iguana

Brazil



L. magellicanus


Chile, Argentina

TL approx 13 cm, SVL approx 6 cm

Description: nostril lateral. Upper head-scales moderate, convex, smooth; a small azygos frontal, separated from the interparietal by a pair of fronto-parietals; interparietal as large as or a little smaller than the parietals; a series of 3-4 enlarged supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbitals; temporal scales keeled; ear-opening small, with 1-2 small projecting scales in front. Sides of neck irregularly folded; a small curved antehumeral fold; the scales pointed, imbricate, smaller than those on the upper surface; 2-3 larger pointed scales project in front of the arm. Dorsal scales moderate, elongate rhomboidal, very strongly keeled, ending in a short spine; scales on the flanks as large as the dorsals; ventrals nearly as large, but rounded and smooth ; forty to forty-four scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb seldom reaches the axil; digits very short; hinder side of thighs uniformly granulate. Male with 3-5 anal pores. Tail: not or but slightly longer than head and body; caudal scales nearly as large as dorsals. Coloration: brownish or olive above, with four or five light yellowish or greenish streaks, that extending on each side of the back, from the eye to the base of the tail, widest and best defined; between the light bands, series of large squarish black spots; a black longitudinal streak on the upper surface of the snout, and another, curved one, bordering on each side the interorbital region, which is usually yellowish; lower surfaces greyish white, with metallic gloss, mottled with bluish black, sometimes nearly entirely black. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. maldonadae


Chile



L. mapuche


Argentina



L. martorii


Argentina



L. melaniceps


Chile



L. melanogaster


Peru



L. melanopleurus


Chile


Found in the Atacama Desert.

L. melanops


Argentina



L. meraxes


Argentina



L. messii


Argentina



L. millcayac


Argentina



L. molinai


Chile



L. montanezi


Argentina



L. montanus

Mountain Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. monticola

Peak Tree Iguana

Chile



L. moradoensis


Chile



L. morandae


Argentina



L. morenoi


Argentina



L. multicolor

Many-Coloured Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. multiformis


Peru, Bolivia



L. multimaculatus

Many-Spotted Tree Iguana

Argentina

TL approx 13.5 cm, SVL approx 7 cm

Description: nostril superior. Upper head-scales very small, convex, smooth; no frontal; interparietal much smaller than the tympanum; a series of 6-7 transversely enlarged supraoculars; 2-3 series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales smooth ; anterior border of ear not denticulated. Sides of neck granular, strongly plicate. Dorsal scales very small, subhexagonal, scarcely imbricate, feebly keeled; lateral scales a little smaller, separated from one another by minute granules; ventrals much larger than dorsals, squarish, smooth; 72 or 74 scales round the middle of the body, of which 26 or 28 are ventrals. The adpressed hind limb reached a little beyond the shoulder; hinder side of thighs with a patch of enlarged rhomboidal scales; the digits, which are very slender, and provided with very long falciform claws, are very feebly keeled inferiorly, and the fourth toe is fringed laterally. 8-10 anal pores. Tail: depressed, as long as or slightly longer than head and body; caudal scales much larger than dorsals. Coloration: grey above, with numerous small black spots, some of which are bordered with white; lower surfaces white, uniform or spotted with blackish. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. nazca


Peru



L. neuquensis


Argentina



L. nigriceps

Black Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina

TL approx 14.5 cm, SVL approx 7.5 cm

Description: head short, covered with small smooth scales, the supraoculars being the smallest of all ; ear-opening rather small, without denticulation. Dorsal scales hexagonal, juxtaposed, smooth, forming oblique lines. The adpressed hind limb does not quite reach the axil. Tail: nearly as long as head and body, conical, with rings of small squarish smooth scales. Coloration: pale grey above, sides orange with vertical black bars; head and neck deep black; lower surfaces white, black-spotted. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. nigromaculatus

Many-Spotted Tree Iguana

Chile

TL approx 22.5 cm, SVL approx 9.5 cm

Description: nostril lateral. Upper head-scales rather large, smooth; a small azygous frontal, separated from the interparietal by a pair of frontoparietals; interparietal smaller than, or nearly as large as, parietals; a series of 3-4 broad supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales smooth or very feebly keeled; three or 3-4 large, pointed scales projecting in front of the ear, largest and nearly covering the latter in the full-grown male. Sides of neck covered with very small scales, which are lanceolate and somewhat raised on the longitudinal fold; an indistinct curved antehumeral fold. Dorsal scales moderate, rhomboidal, strongly keeled, pointed; ventral scales smaller, rounded or obtusely pointed, smooth; 48-54 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the shoulder or between the latter and the ear; hinder side of thighs uniformly granulate. Male with 2-4 anal pores. Tail: once and a fourth to once and a half as long as head and body; caudal scales (except the basal ones) smaller than dorsals. Coloration: females and young pale brownish above, with darker and lighter spots sometimes forming undulated cross hands on the body, limbs, and tail; male variegated pale olive and blackish; a black spot or vertical bar in front of the shoulder. Lower surfaces whitish in the female, greenish in the male; throat usually spotted or marbled with blackish. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. nigroviridis

Black-Green Tree Iguana

Chile



L. nitidus

Shining Tree Iguana

Chile

TL approx 24.5 cm, SVL approx 9.5 cm

Description: In hahit similar to a Tropidosaura. Nostril sublateral. Upper head-scales rather large: an azygous frontal; interparietal smaller than parietals, separated from the frontals by a pair of frontoparietals; a series of 3-4 enlarged supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales keeled; 2-3 projecting scales on the anterior border of the ear, the uppermost large and band-like, as if formed of the fusion of two scales. Sides of neck not plicate, covered with large scales similar to those on the dorsal surface. Nuchal and dorsal scales large, rhomboidal, very strongly keeled, the keel ending in a spine; ventral scales a little smaller, rounded or obtusely pointed, smooth; 28 or 30 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the axil or the neck; hinder side of thighs uniformly granulate. 2 or 4 anal pores in the male. Tail: once and a half to twice as long as head and body; caudal scales smaller than dorsals. Coloration: female and young coppery brown above, with waved dark-brown, yellowish-edged cross bands on the back; adult male dark olive-brown above, the head dotted with yellowish, and the dorsal scales edged with yellowish, the two colours forming irregular variegations; lower surfaces whitish in the female, the throat marbled or obliquely striated with blackish; in the males they are greenish white, olive, or blackish, with irregular darker spots or lines ; the throat, if not entirely black, marbled or striated with black. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. normae

Norma's Leopard Lizard

Chile



L. occipitalis

Skull Tree Iguana

Brazil, Uruguay

TL approx 11 cm, SVL approx 5 cm

Description: nostril superior. Upper head-scales very small, convex, smooth; no frontal; interparietal larger than the surrounding scales, as large as or larger than the tympanum; a series of 3 or 4 enlarged supraoculars; two series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales smooth; anterior border of ear not denticulated. Sides of neck strongly plicate, covered witli minute granular scales. Dorsal scales small, subhexagonal, feebly imbricate, keeled; lateral scales smaller, roundish, juxtaposed, smooth; ventrals larger than dorsals, rhomboidal, smooth ; 66-72 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the tympanum, or not quite so far; hinder side of thighs uniformly granular, or with a patch of enlarged granules. Eight anal pores in the male. Tail: a little depressed, slightly longer than head and body; caudal scales larger than dorsals. Coloration: pale greyish above; a series of darker spots on each side of the vertebral line; two darker bands on each side from axilla to groin, separated by a white streak; lower surfaces uniform white, or with small greyish spots on the throat. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. olongasta


Argentina



L. omorfi

Beautiful Lizard

Chile



L. orko


Argentina



L. ornatus

Ornate Tree Iguana

Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina



L. ortizii

Ortiz's Tree Iguana

Peru



L. pacha


Argentina



L. pachacutec


Peru



L. pachecoi


Bolivia, Chile



L. pagaburoi


Argentina



L. pantherinus

Panther Tree Iguana

Peru, Bolivia, Chile



L. parthenos


Argentina



L. parvus


Argentina



L. patriciaiturrae


Chile



L. paulinus

Paulina's Tree Iguana

Chile



L. petrophilus


Argentina



L. pictus

Painted Tree Iguana

S Chile, Argentina

TL approx 18.5 cm, SVL approx 6.5 cm

See Reptile Database entry for discussion of the status of the subspecies. Description: nostril lateral. Upper head-scales rather small, smooth; a small azygous frontal, separated from the interparietal by a pair of frontoparietals; interparietal smaller than parietals; a series of more or less distinctly enlarged supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales smooth or obtusely keeled; ear-opening without, or with one or two very small projecting scales in front. Sides of neck granular, irregularly plicate; an antehumeral fold. Dorsal scales small, somewhat variable in size, rhomboidal, pointed, strongly keeled; lateral scales smaller, keeled; ventrals as large as dorsals, squarish, imbricate, smooth; 52-70 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear in the male, the shoulder or a little beyond in the female; hinder side of thighs uniformly granulate. Male with 2-4 anal pores. Tail: about once and two thirds as long as head and body; caudal scales a little larger than dorsals. Coloration: greenish or olive above, variously spotted or marbled with black, a laterodorsal band of the lighter ground colour remaining immaculate: the black spots maybe large and angular, and form three or four zigzag bands on the back; the upper parts sometimes dotted all over with pale green; lower surfaces whitish or greenish, chin and sides of throat reticulated or marbled with black. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. p. pictus

L. p. argentinus

L. p. chiloeensis

L. p. codoceae

L. p. major

L. p. talcanensis

L. pikunche


Chile



L. pipanaco


Argentina



L. platei

Braided Tree Iguana

Chile



L pleopholis


Peru, Chile



L. poconchilensis


Peru, Chile



L. poecilochromus


Argentina



L. polystictus


Peru



L. porosus


Chile, Argentina



L. pseudoanomalus


Argentina



L. pseudolemniscatus


Chile



L. puelche


Argentina



L. pulcherrimus


Argentina



L. puna


Bolivia, Chile, Argentina



L. punmahuida


Argentina



L. puritamensis


Chile, Argentina



L. purul


Argentina



L. pyriphlogos


Argentina



L. qalaywa


Peru



L. quilmes


Argentina



L. quinterosi


Argentina



L. rabinoi

Rabino's Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. ramirezae


Argentina



L. reichi

Stolzmann's Pacific Iguana

Peru, Chile



L. riojanus


Argentina



L. robertmertensi

Robert's Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. robertoi

Roberto's Lizard

Chile



L. robustus


Peru



L. rosenmanni


Chile



L. rothi

Roth's Sand Iguana

Argentina



L. ruibali

Ruibal's Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. sagei


Argentina



L. salinicola


Argentina



L. salitrosus


Argentina



L. sanjuanensis

San Juan Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. sarmientoi


Chile, Argentina



L. saxatilis


Argentina



L. scapularis

Shoulder Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. schmidti

Schmidt's Tree Iguana

Bolivia, Chile



L. schroederi

Schroeder's Tree Iguana

Chile



L. scolaroi


Chile, Argentina



L. scorialis

Slag Lizard

Chile



L. scrocchii


Argentina



L. senguer


Argentina



L. septentrionalis

Painted Tree Iguana

Chile



L. shehuen


Argentina



L. shitan


Argentina



L. signifer

Zodiac Tree Iguana

Peru, Bolivia, Chile

TL approx 10.5 cm, SVL 4.5 cm

Description: nostril latero-superior. Upper head-scales small, smooth; no frontal; interparietal smaller than parietals; 6 transverse supraoculars; a single (or double) series of scales between the labials and the infraocular; temporal scales smooth; anterior border of ear with two slightly projecting small scales. Sides of neck granular, strongly folded. Dorsal scales very small, hexagonal, scarcely imbricate, feebly and tubercularly keeled ; lateral scales smaller still ; ventrals much larger than dorsals, rounded, smooth; 78 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches between the shoulder and the ear; hinder side of thighs uniformly granular. Male with 4 anal pores. Tail: a little longer than head and body; caudal scales much larger than dorsals. Coloration: grey above, with small black undulate transverse markings arranged in four longitudinal series; lower surfaces whitish, speckled with grey. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. silvai


Chile



L. silvanae


Argentina



L. sitesi


Argentina



L. smaug


Argentina



L. somuncurae


Argentina



L. stolzmanni

Stolzmann's Pacific Iguana

Chile



L. tacnae


Peru



L. tacora

Tacora Lizard

Chile



L. tajzara


Bolivia



L. talampaya


Argentina



L. tandiliensis


Argentina



L. tari


Argentina



L. tehuelche


Argentina



L. telsen


Argentina



L. tenuis

Thin Tree Iguana

Chile, Argentina

TL approx 18 cm, SVL approx 6 cm

Description: nostril sublateral. Upper head-scales rather small, smooth; a small azygous frontal, separated from the interparietal by a pair of frontoparietals; interparietal usually smaller than parietals; a series of 3-4 broad supraoculars; a single series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales feebly keeled; anterior border of ear not distinctly denticulated. Sides of neck granular, irregularly plicate; an antehumeral fold. Dorsal scales small, feebly imbricate, hexagonal, as broad as or a little broader than long, and shortly and feebly keeled; lateral scales smaller; ventrals as large as dorsals, squarish, smooth; 66-72 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear in the male, the shoulder in the female; hinder side of thighs uniformly granular. Male with 2-3 anal pores. Tail: once and two thirds to twice as long as head and body; caudal scales larger than dorsals. Coloration: olive or coppery brown above, with blackish spots sometimes forming angular cross bands on the back and tail, more or less profusely dotted with bluish-green or pale olive; lower surfaces pale golden, throat frequently bluish-green. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. t. tenuis



L. t. punctatissimus



L. teranis


Argentina



L. thermarum

Las Damas River Lizard

Argentina



L. thomasi


Peru



L. tirantii


Argentina



L. tolhuaca

Tolhuaca Lizard

Chile



L. torresi

Torres-Mura Dragon

Chile



L. tregenzai


Argentina



L. tristis


Argentina



L. tromen


Argentina



L. tulkas


Argentina



L. ubaghsi

Ubaghs' Leopard Lizard

Chile



L. umbrifer


Argentina



L. uniformis


Chile



L. uptoni


Argentina



L. uspallatensis

Macola's Tree Iguana

Argentina



L. valdesianus


Chile



L. vallecurensis


Argentina



L. variegatus

Variegated Tree Iguana

Bolivia



L. velosoi


Chile



L. vhagar


Argentina



L. victormoralesii


Peru



L. villaricensis

Villarica Tree Iguana

Chile



L. vulcanus


Argentina



L. walkeri

Walker's Tree Iguana

Peru



L. wari


Peru



L. warjantay


Peru



L. wiegmannii


Uruguay, Argentina, Ascension Island

TL 13.5 cm, SVL approx 6 cm

Description: nostril sublateral. Upper head-scales very small, striated or feebly keeled in the adult; no frontal; interparietal and parietals subequal; a series of 4-6 enlarged supraoculars; two series of scales between the labials and the infraorbital; temporal scales keeled; anterior border of ear not denticulated. Sides of neck granular, strongly plicate. Dorsal scales moderate, rhomboidal, strongly keeled, the keels forming continuous lines; lateral scales much smaller, imbricate, keeled; ventrals smaller than dorsals, roundish, smooth; 46-54 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the axil in the female, a little beyond the shoulder in the male; hinder side of thighs with a patch of enlarged rhomboidal keeled scales. Anal pores present in both sexes, 5-8 in the male, 3-8 in the female. Tail: a little longer than head and body; caudal scales not larger than dorsals. Coloration: pale grey or greyish olive above, with two or- four series of transverse, white-edged dark spots, separated by longitudinal light lines; lower surfaces white. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

L. williamsi


Peru



L. xanthoviridis


Argentina



L. yalguaraz


Argentina



L. yanalcu


Argentina



L. yarabamba


Peru



L. yatel


Argentina



L. yauri


Peru



L. zabalai


Chile



L. zapallarensis

Zapallaren Tree Iguana

Chile



L. z. zapallarensis



L. z. ater



L. z. sieversi



L. zullyae


Chile, Argentina



Bibliography




Links

Reptilia article on L. serratus



Back to Iguanids | Back to Lizards | Back to Reptiles | Back to Herpetology | Back to Homepage