Ctenosaura...
acanthura
alfredschmidti
bakeri
clarki
defensor
flavidorsalis
hemilopha
melanosterna
oedirhina
oaxacana
palearis
pectinata
quinquecarinata
similis

  

 


Baja / Sonoran Spiny-tailed Iguanas
Ctenosaura hemilopha subspecies

Ctenosaura hemilopha subspecies
Ctenosaura hemilopha hemilopha (Cope, 1863)
Ctenosaura hemilopha conspicuosa (Dickerson 1919)
Ctenosaura hemilopha insulana (Dickerson 1919)
Ctenosaura hemilopha macrolopha (Smith 1972)
Ctenosaura hemilopha nolascenes (Smith 1972)

The C.hemilopha consist of five subspecies that are all very similar in appearance and occur in similar habitat. These are large stocky lizards that can attain 100 cm ( 40 inches). All subspecies occur in the Gulf of Baja California, Mexico. The coloration is normally white with black chevrons, or light gray with black chevrons. The habitat is generally Subtropical open rocky terrain. These lizards primarily feed on leaves and a variety of vegetation.

  • C. hemilopha hemilopha occurs on the southern half of the Baja peninsula, Mexico.
  • C. hemilopha conspicuosa is found on San Esteban Island (Isla San Esteban) and Cholludo Island (Isla Cholludo) in the Gulf of California.
  • C. hemilopha insulana is found on Cerralvo Island (Isla Cerralvo) about 5 miles off the southern part of Baja near La Paz.
  • C. hemilopha macrolopha is found on the Mexican mainland from Hermosillo, Sonora, south to mid Sinaloa, and deep inland in some areas.
  • C. hemilopha nolascensis is found on San Pedro Nolasco Island (Isla San Pedro Nolasco), which is 9 miles off the eastern shore of the Gulf of California.

There is some debate over the validity of these subspecies due to evidence from DNA testing. It is believed that these iguanas, may have ended up on the Baja peninsula and the islands from early Seri Indian inhabitants transporting them there from the mainland as food sources thousands of years ago.

More Pictures


C. hemilopha hemilopha


C. hemilopha macrolopha


C. hemilopha insulana

Range Map

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