Brachylophus vitiensis
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| Gibbons , 1981 |
Brachylophus vitiensis is a critically endangered ( critically endangered by IUCN ) iguana that on the small to the Fiji belonging volcanic island Yadua Tabu (west of Vanua Levu ) and Macuata occurs.
features
With a head-torso length of 18 to 22 cm and a total length of 60 to 87 cm, Brachylophus vitiensis is larger than the type of Fijian iguanas, Brachylophus fasciatus (13.5 to 19.5 cm). The animals are colored light green and show two or three, white, vertical bands on the trunk, which are a maximum of one centimeter wide. Another white band runs from the neck to the ears. The belly is marbled white and green. Like chameleons , the animals can change their color and also take on a gray or black color. The iris is rosy-gold, the nasal scales yellow and larger than that of Brachylophus fasciatus . On the neck ridge, which is characteristic of iguanas, there are brown, soft spines that have a conical shape. The largest are 1.2 cm long and curved backwards. The dewlap is large and square, while in Brachylophus fasciatus it is small and convex. The sexual dimorphism is not very pronounced in Brachylophus vitiensis . In the males, throat dewlaps and femoral pores are larger and they also show a more intense blackish color. Females have longer tails.
habitat
Brachylophus vitiensis was originally found on many Fiji islands, including the largest ones , Viti Levu and Vanua Levu , but today only with over 10,000 specimens on Yadua Taba, west of Vanua Levu, and with around 690 specimens (2011 estimate) on Macuata. The lizards' habitat are the dry forests in the rain shadow of the western side of the island. Yadua Tabu is 0.7 km², of volcanic origin and very rocky. The iguanas are arboreal. The predominant tree species is the mahogany plant Vavaea amicorum , also the linden-leaved marshmallow ( Talipariti tiliaceum ), Mallotus tiliifolius and an ebony tree ( Diospyros sp.) Occur.
Reproduction
The breeding season is in March and April. A clutch consists of three to four white eggs (3.6 cm long) that are buried. At an air temperature of 25 to 30 ° C, the young hatch after about 35 weeks. They are then about 28 cm long and have a head-torso length of about 8.5 cm.
discovery
This species was discovered after John Gibbons ( University of the South Pacific ) was invited to a performance of the film The Blue Lagoon in 1980 . The director shot a large part of the film on two islands (Turtle Island and Nanuya Levu, Fiji) and enriched the film with footage of local animal life to emphasize the mood of the film. One of the animals shown was a large, colorful iguana. Gibbons, who was studying a related species at the time - Brachylophus fasciatus - then traveled to the location and recognized the as yet undescribed species.
swell
- John RH Gibbons: The Biogeography of Brachylophus (Iguanidae) including the Description of a New Species, B. vitiensis, from Fiji. Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Jul. 31, 1981), pp. 255-273
- ↑ Locations of "The Blue Lagoon" (1980): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080453/locations?ref_=tt_ql_dt_6
- ^ Robert George Sprackland (1992): Giant lizards. Neptune, NJ: TFH Publications. ISBN 0-86622-634-6 .
Web links
- Brachylophus vitiensis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2007. Posted by: Harlow, P. Fisher, R. & Grant, T., 2012. Accessed August 3, 2015.
- Brachylophus vitiensis in The Reptile Database