Microlophus bivittatus
Species of lizard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Microlophus bivittatus, the San Cristóbal lava lizard, is a species of lava lizard endemic to San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos Islands.[1][2][3] The species is commonly attributed to the genus Microlophus but has been attributed to the genus Tropidurus.[2] They are currently under threat by invasive cats on the island.[1][4] The lizard is also closely related to the Microlophus occipitalis which radiated off of the bivittatus.[5]
| San Cristóbal lava lizard | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male | |
.jpg) | |
| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Tropiduridae |
| Genus: | Microlophus |
| Species: | M. bivittatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Microlophus bivittatus (Peters, 1871) | |
 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Reproduction
Lava lizards have a breeding ritual where males will compete via head bobbing to avoid physical conflict. Research has found that head bobbing achieves a greater response when the response is immediate as compared to a 30-second delay.[6] Larger males will receive greater aggression from other males and greater assertive responses from females.[7] There is no current data that supports ecological competition is higher between same sex individuals however.[8]
Gallery
Male and female comparison
Mating
Female
Male with regrown tail
,_Punta_Pitt,_isla_de_San_Cristóbal,_islas_Galápagos,_Ecuador,_2015-07-24,_DD_38.JPG)
