Anolis eugenegrahami, the Eugene's anole or the black stream anole, is a critically endangered species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae.[1] This semi-aquatic species is endemic to northern Haiti.[3]

Anolis eugenegrahami
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Dactyloidae
Genus: Anolis
Species:
A. eugenegrahami
Binomial name
Anolis eugenegrahami

Etymology

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The specific name, eugenegrahami, is in honor of herpetologist Eugene D. Graham Jr., who was one of the collectors of the holotype.[4]

Distribution and habitat

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A. eugenegrahami is endemic to the Département du Nord in northern Haiti where it is only found 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) northeast of Plaisance.[3] It strictly inhabits stream margins in areas with forest.[1]

Description and behavior

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This species, A. eugenegrahami, is of moderate size, with extremely long limbs.[5] Males can reach up to 72 mm (2.8 in) in snout–vent length and females up to 61 mm (2.4 in). Males and females are both very dark. The dewlap (male only) ranges from very dark gray to black, with the edge being lighter.[3]

It is one of two semi-aquatic anoles from the Caribbean, the other being A. vermiculatus of Cuba, and there are a few additional semi-aquatic anoles in Central and South America.[5][6] The semi-aquatic anoles are morphologically diverse and do not form a monophyletic group,[5] but there is convergence in certain microstructures of their skin, making it highly hydrophobic.[6] This results in a thin layer of air on the skin surface when submerged underwater, which they use as an extra air supply for breathing, and it also prevents water from staying on when exiting the water.[6][7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Mahler DL, Hedges B (2020). "Anolis eugenegrahami ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T74995297A75171576. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/74995297/75171576. Downloaded on 29 March 2021.
  2. ^ Schwartz A (1978). "A new species of aquatic Anolis (Sauria, Iguanidae) from Hispaniola". Annals of Carnegie Museum 47: 261-279. (Anolis eugenegrahami, new species, p. 266).
  3. ^ a b c Powell, Robert; Neland, Jason A. (30 November 1998). "Anolis eugenegrahami Schwartz" (PDF). Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  4. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Anolis eugenegrahami, p. 86).
  5. ^ a b c Leal, Manuel; Knox, Alison K.; Losos, Jonathan B. (2002). "Lack of convergence in aquatic Anolis lizards". Evolution. 56 (4): 785–791. doi:10.1554/0014-3820(2002)056[0785:lociaa]2.0.co;2. PMID 12038536.
  6. ^ a b c Baeckens, S.; Temmerman, M.; Gorb, S.N.; Neto, C.; Whiting, M.J. & Van Damme, R. (2021). "Convergent evolution of skin surface microarchitecture and increased skin hydrophobicity in semi-aquatic anole lizards". J Exp Biol. 224 (19): jeb242939. doi:10.1242/jeb.242939. hdl:10067/1820980151162165141. PMC 8541734. PMID 34642763.
  7. ^ Boccia, C.K.; et al. (2021). "Repeated evolution of underwater rebreathing in diving Anolis lizards". Current Biology. 31 (12): 2947–2954.e4. Bibcode:2021CBio...31E2947B. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2021.04.040. PMID 33984265.