The Santa Cruz lava lizard (''Microlophus indefatigabilis'') is a species of lava lizard

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to the Galapagos island of Santa Cruz.

Description

They are identifiable by a brown body with scattered black and white blotches with a distinctive red and black throat and a black chest. Females have a more uniform brown body, a bright orange face, and a black mark at shoulder level. The species is able to shed its tail without mortal injury. The

Sexual dimorphism

Harems are kept, and are competed for by males using a pushup ritual to avoid physical injury. Males have a higher stamina and greater body size compared to the female.

Distribution

Endemic to

Santa Cruz Island Santa Cruz Island ( Spanish: ''Isla Santa Cruz'', Chumash: ''Limuw'') is located off the southwestern coast of Ventura, California, United States. It is the largest island in California and largest of the eight islands in the Channel Islands ...

, it is found within volcanic rock areas, dry shrublands, dry grasslands, deciduous forests, and urban areas, and prefers shaded locations.

References

Microlophus Endemic reptiles of the Galápagos Islands Reptiles of Ecuador Reptiles described in 1890 Taxa named by Georg Baur {{lizard-stub