Guatemalan spiny-tailed iguana
Ctenosaura palearis
Conservation status
Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Iguanidae
Genus:	Ctenosaura
Species:	C. palearis
Binomial name
Ctenosaura palearis Stejneger, 1899

The Guatemalan spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura palearis) is a species of spiny-tailed iguana endemic to the Motagua Valley, Guatemala. This species is threatened by habitat loss and illegal trade. These iguanas are used as a source of food by natives. Its eggs are a food source for the equally threatened Motagua Valley beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti), thereby possibly linking the status of the two species.

The Guatemalan spiny-tailed iguana feeds on leaves and the fruits of the cactus Stenocereus pruinosus and occasionally insects (crickets, beetles, ants and wasp). The habitat of C. palearis is characterized by a greater frequency of S. pruinosus, Albizzia idiopoda, Ximena americana and Acacia deamii. The Guatemalan spiny-tailed iguana can be regarded as a keystone species because it plays an important role in seed dispersal of S. pruinosus.

[edit] References

• Coti, P. y D. Ariano. 2008. Ecology and traditional use of the Guatemalan black iguana (Ctenosaura palearis) in the dry forests of the Motagua Valley, Guatemala. Iguana 15 (3): 142-149.[1]
• Köhler, G. 2004. Ctenosaura palearis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 July 2007.

v • d • e Iguanidae Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Sauropsida · Order: Squamata   Extant species Amblyrhynchus Marine Iguana · Hybrid Iguana Brachylophus Fiji Banded Iguana · Fiji Crested Iguana · Brachylophus bulabula Conolophus Barrington Land Iguana · Galápagos Land Iguana · Galápagos Pink Land Iguana Ctenosaura Northeastern Spinytail Iguana · Campeche Spinytail Iguana · Utila Iguana · Balsas Armed Lizard · Yucatán Spinytail Iguana · Yellowback Spinytail Iguana · Cape Spinytail Iguana · Honduran Paleate Spinytail Iguana · Oaxacan Spinytail Iguana · Roatán Spinytail Iguana · Guatemalan Spinytail Iguana · Mexican Spinytail Iguana · Club Tail Iguana · Black Spinytail Iguana Cyclura Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana · Bartsch's Iguana · Jamaican Iguana · Rhinoceros Iguana · Navassa Island Iguana · Mona Ground Iguana · Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana · Andros Island Iguana · Exuma Island Iguana · Allen Cays Iguana · Grand Cayman Blue Iguana · Cuban Iguana · Lesser Caymans Iguana · Anegada Ground Iguana · Ricord's Iguana · San Salvador Iguana · White Cay Iguana · Acklins Ground Iguana Dipsosaurus Desert iguana Iguana Green Iguana · Lesser Antillean Iguana Sauromalus Common Chuckwalla · Peninsular Chuckwalla · Angel Island Chuckwalla · Monserrat Chuckwalla · San Esteban Chuckwalla

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