Xiphosurus cuvieri (Merrem, 1820)

Nicholson, Kirsten E., Crother, Brian I., Guyer, Craig & Savage, Jay M., 2012, 3477, Zootaxa 3477, pp. 1-108 : 30

Xiphosurus cuvieri Species Group

Diagnosis. — Support for this group is provided by 57 apomorphies including four morphological and 53 molecular ones. One morphological feature is unequivocal: mean number of dorsal scales in 5% of snout-to-vent length increased (19: c to l). Twenty-three molecular apomorphies are unequivocal (see Appendix II).

Definition. — The lizards placed in this species group are mostly large or giant anoles (maximum male snoutto-vent lengths 122 to 180 mm and females 87 to 151 mm). Xiphosurus eugenegrahami is a moderate-sized species (maximum adult male snout-to-vent length 72 mm and adult female maximum 61 mm). Members of this group share the following combination of characters: 1) dorsal surface of skull rugose with pronounced wrinkling or pustulate tubercles; 2) no small fleshy protuberance in upper border of ear opening; 3) dorsal scales small, keeled; 4) ventral scales small, smooth; 5) large dewlap in both sexes; 6) free rim of dewlap without differentiated scales; 7) caudal autotomy septa present.

Content. — This species group contains six species and a total of 21 species and subspecies (see Appendix III).

Distribution. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, their satellite islands, and Isla Culebra ( Fig. 15).