The Montserrat ameiva (Pholidoscelis pluvianotatus ) is a lizard species in the genus Pholidoscelis. It is found on the Caribbean island of Montserrat in the Lesser Antilles.
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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starts withThe species is variable in color and pattern. The dorsal surface on males is reddish or gray-tan, with black speckling and lighter marbling; or it is dull green with slight markings and a dark blue head. The male's ventral surface is dull gray, and it has blue-gray spots on its upper thighs and sides of its tail. Females have a gray dorsal surface and a bluish underside. It is covered with light, widespread spots on its back, sides, legs, and tail. The flanks on females are dull green, sometimes with brown stripes present.
The Montserrat ameiva is endemic to the island Montserrat. Although it was formerly widespread across Montserrat, its populations, as with other wildlife on the island, have declined significantly since the Soufrière Hills volcano became active in 1995, with at least a third of its habitat destroyed. The lizard is also threatened by development, including forest habitat destruction, and invasive species. Because of the extent of its habitat destruction, it is listed as a near threatened species on the IUCN Red List.
