Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith and are used with permission.
SPOTTED WHIPTAIL LIZARD Ameivula abalosi
Small, fast and spotty, the only view most people manage to get of it is a streak of green and a cloud of sand as the animal speeds between one clump of vegetation and the next. This species is typical of dry, open areas with sandy soils. Females utilise their impressive velocity during the courtship process, sprinting ahead of males and inviting others to join the chase until the biggest and fittest male manages to catch her and claim his prize - the opportunity to pass his genes on to the next generation. It is likely that more than one taxa is involved in the Paraguayan population currently known as Ameivula abalosi.
Click on the image to enlarge it.
FIGURE 1 - (FPREP118PH) Adult, PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith October 2009).
FIGURE 2 - (FPREP119PH) Same individual (Paul Smith October 2009).
FIGURE 3 - (FPREP120PH) Same individual head detail (Paul Smith October 2009).
FIGURE 4 - (FPREP121PH) Adult lateral, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith February 2010).
FIGURE 5 - (FPREP122PH) Same individual head detail (Paul Smith February 2010).
FIGURE 6 - (FPREP123PH) Same individual ventral (Paul Smith February 2010).
FIGURE 7 - (FPREP124PH) Juvenile lateral, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith February 2010).
FIGURE 8 - (FPREP125PH) Same individual dorsal (Paul Smith February 2010).
FIGURE 9 - (FPREP126PH) Same individual ventral (Paul Smith February 2010).
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FIGURE 1
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FIGURE 2
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FIGURE 3
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FIGURE 4
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FIGURE 5
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FIGURE 6
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FIGURE 7
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FIGURE 8
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FIGURE 9
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