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Autotomy: Despite its size, this lizard has its fair share of predators such as coral snakes and brown nosed coatis (see below). Like alot of lizards, the Green ameiva can 'cast off' its tail if it feels threatened, providing an ample distraction so the lizard can flee.{2}

Coral snake predation on the green ameiva
Brown nosed coati predation on Green ameiva

Dietary habits: As large as these lizards are, they can take just about anything they can fit in their jaws and subdue. Prey generally consists of invertebrates(e.g. Grasshoppers, beetles, various insect larvae),But some populations are known to regularly predate on small vertebrates. Anurans, lizards, and even one instance of a fish were noted as prey animals for this ameiva.{3}.There also exists this attempted predation on an amphisbaenian (see screenshot below)


Reproduction: Males reach sexual maturity at 99mm(3.8in) SVL and females reach sexual maturity at 102mm(4in) SVL{4}.Mating occurs for most of the year,with Reproductive females being found primarily October- March, With the eggs being laid in the corresponding months. Like alot of reptiles, Clutch size varies with the size of the female. Anywhere from 1 to 11 eggs can be laid. When the young hatch, they typically measure 40mm(1.57in).{1} 

Ameiva species :

1- The giant ameiva (Ameiva ameiva) :

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The giant ameiva (Ameiva ameiva), also known as green ameiva, South American ground lizard, giant whiptail, zandoli, Amazon whiptail, and Amazon racerunner, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae found in Central and South America and some Caribbean Islands.

Giant ameiva 

Male

Female

Scientific classification :

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Family:Teiidae

Genus:Ameiva

Species:A. ameiva

Binomial name :

Ameiva ameiva
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Subspecies :

Ameiva ameiva ameiva
Ameiva ameiva fischeri
Ameiva ameiva fulginosa
Ameiva ameiva laeta
Ameiva ameiva melanocephala
Ameiva ameiva ornata
Ameiva ameiva petersi
Ameiva ameiva praesignis
Ameiva ameiva tobagana
Ameiva ameiva vogli

Synonyms :

Lacerta ameiva Linnaeus, 1758
Ameiva ameiva bilineata
Ameiva ameiva petersi
Ameiva americana
Ameiva bifrontata
Ameiva guttata
Ameiva litterata
Ameiva panchlora
Ameiva pleurotaenia
Ameiva surinamensis
Ameiva surinamensis var. aquilina
Ameiva surinamensis var. atrigularis
Ameiva surinamensis tobagana
Ameiva tobagana
Ameiva vulgaris
Cnemidophorus maculatus
Lacerta ameiva
Lacerta graphica
Lacerta litterata
Lacerta tristriata
Seps surinamensis
Teius tritaeniatus

 

Geographic range :

 

It is widespread in Central America and South America, including: Panama, Brazil, Colombia, Surinam, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, and Paraguay. It is also found on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, the Grenadines, Margarita, Swan Island, and Isla de la Providencia.[1] It was also once present on Saint Vincent but has since been extirpated.

 

Description :

 

Ameiva ameiva has a streamlined body, pointed head, slightly forked tongue, and muscular hind legs. They grow to approximately 45–50 cm (18–20 in). Both sexes have random black specs and mottling along the sides. Females usually have much less green than males and a more dusty of a green color. Males have vibrant green coloration and more bold mottling. Males also have more expanded jowls. Green ameivas are popular as a pet because of the male's striking green coloration.

 

Habitat :

 

Giant ameiva live on the forest floor, often sheltering underneath logs and in leaf litter. Captive individuals have been observed making tunnels spanning out from under a log or rock when given enough soil.

 

Diet :

 

The giant ameiva's diet consists of mainly insects, frogs, and spiders. In captivity, mealworms are a favorite of the ameiva along with crickets.

 

Reproduction :

 

The female lays several clutches of eggs from March to December.

 

Invasive species :

 

This species has been introduced into the United States with thriving populations in South Florida.

 

Parasites :

 

This species is infected by a number of protist parasites including:

 

-Acroeimeria pintoi

-Choleoeimeria carinii

-Plasmodium attenuatum

-Plasmodium carmelinoi

-Plasmodium cnemidophori

-Plasmodium diminutivum

-Plasmodium minasense

-Plasmodium pifanoi

-Plasmodium telfordi

-Sarcocystis ameivamastigodryasi

 

 

For the external links , refrences  click here to read the full wikipedia article 

Video : 

Jungle runner, Ameiva ameiva, Lizard looking for food,

Care Articles : 

 

Giant Ameiva :

courtesy to :  reptile-parrots.com/forums/showthread.php/633-Giant-Ameiva

 

Trade Name: 
Giant Whiptail, Green Whiptail, Jungle Runner.

 

Family & Scientific Name:
Teiidae; Ameiva ameiva

Identifying Features:
Two distinctly different colour morphs. One is dusky coloured – a almost charcoal – with blue spots on the sides. Theo other has a tan face and chin and tail and green back and sides. Never striped or with longitudinal lines of spots. 

Range & Origin:
Tropical Latin America, Dade County, Florida. Specimens available in the pet trade are collected from the wild. Very few are captive-bred. 

Adult Size: 
14-18 Inches, of which nearly two- thirds is tail length. 

Life Span: 
2-6 Years.

Terrarium Size:
Several babies can be housed in a 20-gallon terrarium. One or two adults require a 50-75 gallon terrarium. 

Terrarium Type: 
This is a lizard both of forest edge and of semiarid to arid areas. It can withstand periodic drought but can also tolerate considerable humidity and ground moisture. It thermoregulates in clearings or along the edges of trails. It seems to do best in a dry savannah terrarium and enjoys digging in a sandy soil substrate. 

Social Structure:
Juveniles and females coexist well in groups; adult males may be antagonistic. 

Diet:
Insects are readily accepted. A very occasional pinky mouse and an occasional blossom and canned cat food have also been eaten by these lizards. 

Potential Problems:
If provided with sufficient heat (hot spot of 100 – 115F) adequate food and fresh water, this is a hardy and largely trouble free lizards. Babies and ovulating females should have their feed insects dusted with Vitamin D3-calcium powder twice weekly. 


References: Bartlett, R.D., and Patricia Bartlett. Monitors and Tegus. Hauppage, NY: Barron's Education Series.

Green(Giant) Ameiva - Ameiva ameiva 

courtesy to :  carnivoraforum.com/topic/10318199/1/

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Teiidae
Genus: Ameiva
Species: A. ameiva 

Description: The Green ameiva is a mid-sized teiid ranging from 120-190mm(4.7-7.4in) SVL in adult animals.{1} Males are substantially larger then the females, and have proportionately larger heads at similar sizes. Males are also distinguished from the females by the fact that they possess large jowls. Standard coloration Is a white with various black speckling(varies from individual to individual), with some tan coloration running from the nape of the neck to mid-body. Shades of 
green and even blue can be found on some individuals, typically running from mid-body to the vent.

Geographic range: This is a relatively wide-ranging species of lizard, being found throughout Brazil and up into Central America. 

Male

Female

References:
{1}Vitt, Laurie J., and Guarino R. Colli. "Geographical ecology of a neotropical lizard: Ameiva ameiva (Teiidae) in Brazil." Canadian journal of zoology 72.11 (1994): 1986-2008.
{2} Vitt, Laurie J. "Tail loss in lizards: the significance of foraging and predator escape modes." Herpetologica (1983): 151-162.
{3}Sales, Raul FD, Leonardo B. Ribeiro, and Eliza MX Freire. "Feeding ecology of Ameiva ameiva in a caatinga area of northeastern Brazil." The Herpetological Journal 21.3 (2011): 199-207.
{4}Vitt, Laurie J. "Reproductive tactics of Ameiva ameiva (Lacertilia: Teiidae) in a seasonally fluctuating tropical habitat." Canadian Journal of Zoology 60.12 (1982): 3113-3120.

Ameiva genus :  Introduction  & Care :  PART 1   ..   PART 2 

 

Ameiva Species : 

 

1-  The giant ameiva (Ameiva ameiva) : PART 1  --  PART 2 

 

2- Ameiva undulata ( Ameiva ondulata )  

 

3-  Ameiva festiva - tiger ameiva 

 

4- Ameiva - other species  

 

 

Ameiva genus :  Introduction  & Care :  PART 1   ..   PART 2 

 

Ameiva Species : 

 

1-  The giant ameiva (Ameiva ameiva) : PART 1  --  PART 2 

 

2- Ameiva undulata ( Ameiva ondulata )  

 

3-  Ameiva festiva - tiger ameiva 

 

4- Ameiva - other species  

 

 

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