Spondylurus
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| Spondylurus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Spondylurus nitidus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Subfamily: | Mabuyinae |
| Genus: | Spondylurus Fitzinger, 1826 |
Spondylurus is a genus of lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus Spondylurus, vernacularly known as the Antillean four-lined skinks, is a neotropical skink taxon including many species.
Species in the genus Spondylurus are characterized by four (occasionally three to six) dark dorsolateral stripes. This characteristic is known to fade in older individuals, and colors in preservative shift from tans and browns to greens and blues, often causing confusion as to the true color in life.[1]
Conservation status
Many of the species of Spondylurus are extinct or endangered, resulting from invasive predators such as the mongoose.[2]
Geographic range
The genus Spondylurus is distributed throughout the West Indies including the Caicos Islands, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the Lesser Antilles.[3]