Blue Madagascar Iguana
| Blue Madagascar Iguana | ||||||||||||
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Blue Madagascar Iguana ( Oplurus fierinensis ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Oplurus fierinensis | ||||||||||||
| Grandidier , 1869 |
The blue Madagascar iguana ( Oplurus fierinensis ) is a species of lizard from the genus Oplurus within the family of Madagascar iguanas (Opluridae). He lives in island populations in the region around Toliara in southwestern Madagascar .
features
The Madagascar blue iguana reaches a total length of 28 cm, of which 18 cm is the tail. The body is short and stocky. The strong legs offer a secure hold on the smooth granite rocks. The basic color is a shade of gray which, depending on the intensity of the light, can change into a sky blue with a radiant luminosity. The ventral side is solid gray.
habitat
The blue Madagascar iguana is a pure rock inhabitant. It lives in free-standing rocky outcrops in the hot savannah and in the impenetrable thorn bush forests.
Way of life
Of all Madagascar iguanas, the Madagascar blue iguana is best adapted to a way of life in the rocks. Due to its color, it is well camouflaged on the blue-gray rocks. Locals call these iguanas "Lo-lam-ba-lo", which roughly translates as "Spirit of the Rocks". When in danger, the animals seek shelter in small crevices in the rock.
literature
- Friedrich-Wilhelm Henkel, Wolfgang Schmidt: Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, the Mascarene, the Seychelles, and the Comoro Islands. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar FL 2000, ISBN 1-57524-014-9 , p. 146.
- Uwe Schlüter: Madagascar iguanas - way of life, care and reproduction . - KUS-Verlag, Rheinstetten, 2013. ISBN 978-3-9808264-8-8 .
Web links
- Oplurus fierinensis in The Reptile Database
- Oplurus fierinensis inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.2. Listed by: Raxworthy, CJ, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2014.