Xiphosurus chamaeleonides (C. Dumeril and Bibron, 1837)

Nicholson, Kirsten E., Crother, Brian I., Guyer, Craig & Savage, Jay M., 2012, 3477, Zootaxa 3477, pp. 1-108 : 29

Xiphosurus chamaeleonides Species Group

Diagnosis. — Support for this group is provided by 127 apomorphies including 21 morphological and 106 molecular ones. None of the morphological features is unequivocal. There are 87 unequivocal molecular apomorphies (see Appendix II).

Definition. — Lizards of this species group are giant dactyloids (maximum snout-to-vent length in adult males 162 to 177 and 157 to 172 mm in adult females) sharing the following combination of characters: 1) a rugose cephalic casque terminating in a posteriorly raised arch; 2) a small fleshy protuberance in upper border of ear opening; 3) large, circular and flat dorsal scales separated by small granular scales; 4) ventral scales small, smooth granules; 5) large dewlap in both sexes, base extending to venter; 6) free rim of dewlap with conical, filamentous or barbel-like scales; 7) no caudal autotomy septa.

Content. — Five species are referred to this species group (see Appendix III).

Distribution. — Cuba and its satellite islands ( Fig. 15).