Gaige's Rainbow lizard (Cnemidophorus gaigei)

Pueblito, PNN Tayrona, Colombia. May 27, 2014.

comments (5)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Now there is one gorgeous lizard, what a find! Posted 9 years ago
1. Thibaud Aronson
  
  Lion
  
  Aren't they beautiful? And they are quite common in the park, but surprisingly skittish, so I could never get a nice close-up...
  Ferdy, I see you put it down as C. lemniscatus, but I'm pretty sure C. gaigei is recognized as a valid species, endemic to northern Colombia? Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Sorry, eol.org redirected me to lemniscatus even though searching for gaigei. If I understand this correctly, it may be a synonym:
    http://eol.org/pages/1056806/names/synonyms Posted 9 years ago
  2. 1. Thibaud Aronson
      
      Lion
      
      The reptile database recognizes it, it seems it's a subspecies that's recently been given full species status.
      http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Cnemidophorus&species=gaigei&search_param=%28%28genus%3D%27cnemidophorus%27%29%29
      
      "Given that C. l. gaigei appears to be geographically isolated from other populations of C. lemniscatus that molecular data suggest are best treated as full species (C. gramivagus to the south and southeast and C. splendidus to the east; Fig. 1), we suggest elevating C. l. gaigei to a full species, C. gaigei comb. nov. Ruthven (see Fig. 7 for the location of the C. gaigei specimens examined for this work and the location of its type locality). [from MCCRANIE & HEDGES 2013]."
      
      On the other hand, I regularly rant against taxonomist splitters when it comes to orchids, so it's up to you ;-)
      Posted 9 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        I'm convinced, species renamed :) Posted 9 years ago