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Gymnophthalmus underwoodi GRANT, 1958

IUCN Red List - Gymnophthalmus underwoodi - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaGymnophthalmidae (Gymnophthalminae), Gymnophthalmini, Sauria, Gymnophthalmoidea, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Smooth-scaled Tegulet, Underwcod's Spectaded Tegu 
SynonymGymnophthalmus underwoodi GRANT 1958: 228
Gymnophthalmus underwoodi — SCHWARTZ & HENDERSON 1991: 411
Gymnophthalmus underwoodi — KIZIRIAN & COLE 1999
Gymnophthalmus underwoodi — PIANKA & VITT 2003: 120
Gymnophthalmus cf. underwoodi — OLIVEIRA et al. 2014
Gymnophthalmus underwoodi — MACIEL et al. 2021 
DistributionVenezuela, Brazil (Amazonas), Guyana, Suriname, Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago, Guadeloupe (incl. Les Saintes, Terre-de-Haut), St. Vincent, Martinique, Antigua [HR 30: 110], St. Kitts, Petit Cul-de-sac, Saint-Barthélemy

Introduced to Cuba, Saba (Dutch Caribbean)
Possibly introduced to Brazil (Pará) (Maciel et al. 2021)

Type locality: Barbados.  
Reproductionoviparous; Unisexual and parthenogenetic species.  
TypesHolotype: INHS (= UIMNH) 42334. 
DiagnosisAdditional details, e.g. a detailed description or comparisons (660 characters), are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. 
CommentAvila-Pires (1995) and GORZULA & SEÑARIS (1999) treat close relatives of G. underwoodi (cryptus, leucomystax, speciosus, underwoodi) as the “G. underwoodi complex”, which apparently form separate, but “cryptic” species. KIZIRIAN & COLE provide evidence that G. cryptus is the “maternal” species of G. underwoodi.

Distribution: for a map see Maciel et al. 2021: 292 (Fig. 1). 
EtymologyNamed after Garth Leon Underwood (1919-2002), British herpetologist (obituary in Copeia 2003: 222-225). 
References
  • Auguste, Renoir J. 2019. Herpetofaunal checklist for six pilot protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago. Herpetology Notes 12: 577-585 - get paper here
  • Avila-Pires, T.C.S. 1995. Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata). Zoologische Verhandelingen 299: 1-706 - get paper here
  • Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins, and Michael Grayson 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA - get paper here
  • Boos, H.E.A. 1984. The terrestrial reptiles of Monos island. Living World - get paper here
  • Borroto-Páez, Rafael; Roberto Alonso Bosch, Boris A. Fabres, and Osmany Alvarez García 2015. Introduced Amphibians and Reptiles in the Cuban Archipelago. Herp. Cons. Biol. 10 (3) - get paper here
  • BORROTO-PÁEZ, RAFAEL; ROBERTO ALONSO BOSCH, BORIS A. FABRES, AND OSMANY ALVAREZ GARCÍA 2015. INTRODUCED AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES IN THE CUBAN ARCHIPELAGO. Herp. Cons. Biol. 10 (3):985–1012. - get paper here
  • Breuil M, Serre-Collet F. 2012. Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Smooth-scaled Worm Lizard). Distribution. Caribbean Herpetology 30: 1 - get paper here
  • Breuil, Michel 1999. Atlas des Amphibiens et Reptiles de Martinique. Parc Naturel Régional de la Martinique
  • Breuil, Michel; Fortuné Guiougou; Karl Questel; Béatrice Ibéné 2009. Modifications du peuplement les Antilles françaises, 2 ème partie. Le Courrier de la Nature n° 251: 36-43
  • Censky, Ellen J.;Lindsay, Kevin 1997. Geographic Distribution. Gymnophthalmus underwoodi. Herpetological Review 28 (4): 210 - get paper here
  • Cole C J. DESSAUER H C. MARKEZICH A L. 1993. Missing Link Found: The Second Ancestor of Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Squamata: Teiidae), A South American Unisexual Lizard of Hybrid Origin. American Museum Novitates (3055): 1-13. - get paper here
  • Cole C J. DESSAUER H C. TOWNSEND C R. ARNOLD M G. 1990. Unisexual lizards of the genus Gymnophthalmus (Reptilia Teiidae) in the neotropics: genetics origin and systematics. American Museum Novitates (2994): 1-29. - get paper here
  • Cole, Charles J.; Carol R. Townsend, Robert P. Reynolds, Ross D. MacCulloch, and Amy Lathrop 2013. Amphibians and reptiles of Guyana, South America: illustrated keys, annotated species accounts, and a biogeographic synopsis. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 125 (4): 317-578; plates: 580-620 - get paper here
  • Cole, Charles J.;Townsend, Carol R.;Dessauer, Herbert C.;Hardy, Laurence M. 1989. A lizard foretold. Natural History 1989 (5): 12-17
  • Daltry, Jennifer C. 2007. An introduction to the herpetofauna of Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda, with some conservation recommendations. Applied Herpetology 4 (2): 97-130. - get paper here
  • Daudin, Jacques; de Silva, Mark. 2007. An annotated checklist of the amphibians and terrestrial reptiles of the Grenadines with notes on their local natural history and conservation. Applied Herpetology 4 (2):163-175 - get paper here
  • FARIAS, R. E. S., AND R. C. VOGT 2020. Geographic Distribution: Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Smooth-Scaled Worm Lizard). Brazil: Roraima: Municipality Of Bonfim. Herpetological Review 51: 76.
  • Gorzula, Stefan & Senaris, J. Celsa 1999. In: Contribution to the herpetofauna of the Venezuelan Guayana. I: a data base. Scientia Guaianae, Caracas, No. 8 [1998], 269+ pp.; ISBN 980-6020-48-0
  • Grant, C. 1958. A new Gymnophthalmus (Reptilia, Teiidae) from Barbados, B.W.I. Herpetologica 14: 227-228. - get paper here
  • Grant, C. 1959. Herpetology of Barbados, B.W.I. Herpetologica 15 (2): 97-101 - get paper here
  • Jairam, Rawien 2016. Attempted predation on a Smooth-scaled Worm Lizard, Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Grant 1958) by a Rainbow Whiptail, Cnemidophorus lemniscatus (Linnaeus 1758) in Suriname. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians 23 (2): 93–94 - get paper here
  • Kizirian, D. A. & Cole, C.J. 1999. Origin of the Unisexual Lizard Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Gymnophthalmidae) Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Nucleotide Sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 11 (3): 394–400 - get paper here
  • Lorvelec, Olivier; Pascal, Michel; Pavis, Claudie; Feldmann, Philippe. 2007. Amphibians and reptiles of the French West Indies: inventory, threats and conservation. Applied Herpetology 4 (2):131-161 - get paper here
  • MENDES-PINTO, TELÊMACO JASON; Mestrando, BERNHARD, RAFAEL, VOGT, RICHARD; PEDRETT, RONNEZZA CÉLLIA LOBATO CAMPOS;GARCIA, RAUBER SANTOS 2011. A COLLECTION OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH OF THE AMAZON. Rev. Colombiana cienc. Anim. 3(2): 238 - get paper here
  • Mertens, R. 1972. Herpetofauna tobagana. Stuttgarter Beitr. zur Naturkunde nr. 252 22 pp. - get paper here
  • Oliveira, D.P.; S.M. Souza; L. Frazão; A.P. Almeida; T. Hrbek 2014. Lizards from central Jatapú River, Amazonas, Brazil. Check List 10 (1): 46-53 - get paper here
  • Orchard K. 2010. Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Smooth-scaled Worm Lizard). Distribution. Caribbean Herpetology 12: 1 - get paper here
  • Pianka, E.R. & Vitt, L.J. 2003. Lizards - Windows to the Evolution of Diversity. University of California Press, Berkeley, 347 pp. [review in Copeia 2004: 955] - get paper here
  • Powell, Robert and Robert W. Henderson 2017. Notes on the diets of some amphibians and reptiles of the St. Vincent and Grenada Banks (Lesser Antilles). IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians 24 (2): 135–138 - get paper here
  • Questel K., Boggio J. 2012. Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Smooth-scaled Worm Lizard). Distribution. Caribbean Herpetology 36: 1 - get paper here
  • RECODER, RENATO SOUSA; FRANCISCO DAL VECHIO, SERGIO MARQUES-SOUZA, MAURO JR. TEIXEIRA, MAIUME SILVA-DA-SILVA, ALFREDO P. SANTOS-JR., SÍRIA RIBEIRO, CESAR BARRIO-AMORÓS, MIGUEL TREFAUT RODRIGUES 2018. Geographic variation and taxonomy of red-tailed Gymnophthalmus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Amazonian Savannas. Zootaxa 4497 (1): 061–081 - get paper here
  • REYES, F. O. 2020. Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu). Predation. Herpetological Review 51: 598
  • REYES, F. O., M. A. LANDESTOY T., AND L. JIMENEZ 2020. Geographic Distribution: Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu). Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo: Municipality Of Santo Domingo Este. Herpetological Review 51: 539-540.
  • REYES, F. O., M. A. LANDESTOY T., AND M. RODRIGUEZ BOBADILLA 2020. Geographic Distribution: Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu). Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo: Distrito Nacional. Herpetological Review 51: 539.
  • RIBEIRO-JÚNIOR, MARCO A. & SILVANA AMARAL 2017. Catalogue of distribution of lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) from the Brazilian Amazonia. IV. Alopoglossidae, Gymnophthalmidae. Zootaxa 4269 (2): 151-196 - get paper here
  • Ribeiro-Júnior, Marco A. & Silvana Amaral 2016. Diversity, distribution, and conservation of lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) in the Brazilian Amazonia. Neotropical Biodiversity, 2:1, 195-421 - get paper here
  • Schwartz, A. & Henderson, R.W. 1991. Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, 720 pp.
  • Szkudlarek, M; 2019. Geographic Distribution: Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu) Dominican Republic: La Alta Gracia Province: Municipality of San Rafael del Yuma: Hispanola Island. Herpetological Review 50 (3): 524 - get paper here
  • Thorpe, R.S. 2022. Reptiles of the Lesser Antilles. Chimaira, Frankfurt, 608 pp. - get paper here
  • Turk, P. A., N. N. Wyszynski, R. Powell & R. W. Henderson 2010. Population densities and water-loss rates of Gymnophthalmus pleii, Gymnophthalmus underwoodi (Gymnophthalmidae), and Sphaerodactylus fantasticus fuga (Sphaerodactylidae) on Dominica, West Indies. Salamandra 46 (3): 125-130 - get paper here
  • van den Burg, M. P., Hylkema, A., & Debrot, A. O. 2021. Establishment of two nonnative parthenogenetic reptiles on Saba, Dutch Caribbean: Gymnophthalmus underwoodi and Indotyphlops braminus. Caribbean Herpetology, 79, 1-5 - get paper here
  • Vanzolini P E. CARVALHO C M D. 1991. Two sibling and sympatric species of Gymnophthalmus in Roraima, Brazil (Sauria: Teiidae). Pap. Avul. Zool., Sao Paulo 37 (12): 173-226 - get paper here
  • Vanzolini, P. E. 1976. On the presence of males in Gymnophthalmus underwoodi, a presumed all-female lizard species (Sauria, Teiidae). Pap. Avulsos Zool. 29 (20): 177-179 - get paper here
  • Williamson, K. E. and R. Powell. 2004. Gymnophthalmus underwoodi. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (793): 1-5 - get paper here
  • Yonenaga-Yassuda, Y.;Vanzolini, P. E.;Rodrigues, M. T.;Carvalho, C. M. de 1995. Chromosome banding patterns in the unisexual microteiid Gymnophthalmus underwoodi and in two related species (Gymnophthalmidae, Sauria). Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 70: 29-34 - get paper here
 
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