''Echinosaura'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

s, called commonly the spined tegus, in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Gymnophthalmidae Gymnophthalmidae is a family of lizards with at least 250 species, sometimes known commonly as spectacled lizards or microteiids. They are called "spectacled" because of their transparent lower eyelids, which allow them to still see with closed ...

. The genus is native to

Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

Geographic range and habitat

Species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of ''Echinosaura'' occur in tropical

rainforest Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...

s of

Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...

and South America.

Description

Spined tegu lizards are normally brown in color and have spines on the head, torso, and tail.

Species

Eight species are recognised as being valid."''Echinosaura'' ". Th
Reptile Database
www.reptile-database.org. *''

Echinosaura brachycephala ''Echinosaura brachycephala'' is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is endemic to Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru ...

'' *''

Echinosaura centralis ''Echinosaura centralis'' is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is endemic to Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, in ...

'' *''

Echinosaura fischerorum ''Echinosaura fischerorum'' is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is endemic to Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru o ...

'' *''

Echinosaura horrida ''Echinosaura horrida'', the rough teiid, is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is found in Ecuador and Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insu ...

'' – rough teiid *''

Echinosaura keyi The Key tegu (''Echinosaura keyi)'', also known Common name, commonly as Key's teiid and ''la lagartija minadora tropical'' in Spanish, is a species of lizard in the Family (biology), family Gymnophthalmidae. The species is Endemism, endemic to E ...

'' – Key tegu *''

Echinosaura orcesi ''Echinosaura orcesi'' is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. The species is endemic to northwestern South America. Etymology The specific name, ''orcesi'', is in honor of Ecuadorian herpetologist Gustavo Orcés.Beolens, Bo; Wat ...

'' *''

Echinosaura palmeri ''Echinosaura palmeri'', Palmer's teiid, is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is found in Panama and Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insula ...

'' – Palmer's teiid *''

Echinosaura panamensis ''Echinosaura panamensis'', the Panama teiid, is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is endemic to Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, b ...

'' – Panama teiid

Geographic range and habitat

Description

Species

Notes

Further reading