The dotted galliwasp or Malpelo galliwasp (Diploglossus millepunctatus) is a carnivorous species of lizard endemic to Malpelo Island, Colombia.[2]

Dotted galliwasp
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Diploglossidae
Genus: Diploglossus
Species:
D. millepunctatus
Binomial name
Diploglossus millepunctatus

Description

edit

Adults of the species grow to 50 cm in total length and can reach a weight of 500 g. They are predominantly black, but are liberally dotted with white.

Diet

edit

D. millepunctatus has extremely odd feeding habits for a lizard. Malpelo Island has few resources; the only available foods are crabs and seabirds, especially boobies. While the lizards eat both of these, they also eat guano, and mob birds returning to their young, forcing them to regurgitate their food for the lizards instead of their chicks.[3]

Breeding

edit

D. millepunctatus is viviparous.[2]

Habitat

edit

The species is endemic to Malpelo Island, a possession of Colombia, where it is common. The island is treeless, rocky, and very small. Similar to the marine iguana, it has the ability to swim for short distances, although this is not related to its feeding habits. It shares the island with two other endemic lizard species, Anolis agassizi and Phyllodactylus transversalis.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ Bolívar, W.; Castañeda, M.R.; Gutiérrez-Cárdenas, P.; Velasco, J. (2015). "Diploglossus millepunctatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T44579631A115389226. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b Diploglossus millepunctatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 30 April 2017.
  3. ^ Cogger, Harold G.; Gould, Edwin; Forshaw, Joseph (1993). Encyclopedia of Animals: Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians. Fog City Press. ISBN 978-1-876778-72-9.
  4. ^ Graham, Jeffrey B. (1975). "The biological investigation of Malpelo Island, Colombia" (PDF). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 176 (176): 1–98. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.176.