Tropidurus torquatus is a species of lizard in the family Tropiduridae, the Neotropical ground lizards. Its common name is Amazon lava lizard. The species is endemic to South America. There are no subspecies.
Etymology The specific name, torquatus, is Latin meaning "adorned with a neck chain or collar".
Geographic range Native to South America, Tropidurus torquatus is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. It is one of the most widely distributed species of the genus Tropidurus.
Description Tropidurus torquatus is a medium-sized lizard with a relatively large head. Its scales are overlapping. The reproductively mature female ranges from snout-to-vent length (SVL). One sample of adult males had a mean SVL of , while another found a mean SVL of .
Habitat Tropidurus torquatus lives mainly in open habitat types, especially restinga, part of the Atlantic Forest biome. It may occupy disturbed and degraded restinga. It is also known from the Abrolhos Archipelago, indicating that it can colonize offshore islands. It lives in the Cerrado. It may be found in residential areas, where it is adept at climbing the walls of houses. It is mostly ground-dwelling, living in termite nests and on or under rocks and logs.Ribeiro, L.B., et al. (2008). Thermoregulatory behavior of the saxicolous lizard, Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae), in a rocky outcrop in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 3 (1): 63-70. It is associated with many other animals, including giant ameiva, coati, brown capuchin, guira cuckoo, and false coral snake.Wiederhecker, H.C., et al. (2003). The demography of the lizard Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in a highly seasonal Neotropical savanna. Phyllomedusa 2 (1): 9-19.
Diet The species Tropidurus torquatus is omnivorous, eating invertebrates and plant material. It favors ants,de Carvalho, A.L.G., et al. (2007). Feeding ecology of Tropidurus torquatus (Wied) (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in two areas with different degrees of conservation in Marambaia Island, Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 24 (1): 222-227. and it prefers the fruits and flowers of plants. It commonly eats the fruits of Chomelia obtusa, Ficus luschnathiana (called higuerón), and smilaxes. It especially favors the fruit of Erythroxylum ovalifolium (little coca) during the summer.
Territoriality The male of the species Tropidurus torquatus is territorial. The male performs signalling behaviors such as head-bobbing and tail-whipping and exhibits aggressive behaviors such as chasing and fighting with other males. Larger, faster males tend to dominate higher-quality territories, such as those with many hiding places and abundant sunlight. Females prefer higher-quality territories and accept the males guarding them; a male may have access to a harem of several females in a good habitat.
Reproduction The female Tropidurus torquatus may lay several eggs at a time, but a clutch of two is common, particularly in coastal areas. Clutch sizes may be larger in other geographical ranges.
Bipedalism Another notable behavior of Tropidurus torquatus is occasional bipedal locomotion. It can run relatively quickly on its hind feet for a limited distance. It carries its body in an oblique position, lifting its hindlimbs high. It swings its forelimbs in phase with its hindlimbs, i.e., swinging its right forelimb as its right hindlimb comes up, and its left with its left.
Biology Other aspects of the biology of Tropidurus torquatus have been well-studied, from the production and morphologyTeixeira, R.D., et al. (1999). Ultrastructural study of the spermatozoa of the Neotropical lizards, Tropidurus semitaeniatus and Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae). Tissue & Cell 31 (3): 308-317. of its spermatozoa, to the histology of its liver,Firmiano, E.M.S., et al. (2011). Histological study of the liver of the lizard Tropidurus torquatus Wied 1820, (Squamata: Tropiduridae). J. Morphol. Sci. 28 (3): 165-170. kidneys,Soares, A.M.; Fava-de-Moraes, F. (1983). Histochemistry of the kidney of the tropical lizard Tropidurus torquatus. Gegenbaurs Morphol. Jahrb. 129 (3): 331-344. and red blood cells. An inventory of the parasites inside the bodies of a number of lizards found three nematode species, Physaloptera lutzi, Parapharyngodon bainae, and Oswaldofilaria chabaudi, as well as an unidentified tapeworm and an acanthocephalan.
References
Further reading Boulenger, G.A. (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. Iguanidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 497 pp. + Plates I–XXIV. (Tropidurus torquatus, pp. 176–177). Wied-Neuwied, M. (1820). Reise nach Brasilien in den Jahren 1815 bis 1817 [Volume 1]. Frankfurt am Main: H.L. Bronner. xxxvi + 380 pp. + 5 unnumbered pp. + 25 plates, 2 maps. (Stellio torquatus, new species, pp. 106–107). (in German).