The Tropiduridae are a
family of
iguanid lizards.[1] The family is sometimes considered a
subfamily, Tropidurinae. The subfamily is native to
South America, including the islands of
Trinidad and the
Galápagos. Commonly known as Neotropical ground lizards, most are ground-dwelling animals, and the subfamily includes some lizards adapted to relatively cold climates, including those of the
Andes mountains and
Tierra del Fuego. Several species give birth to
live young.[2]
A 2021 study described a novel escutcheon-type generation gland ('α-gland') in tropidurines, found in at least 39 species. This gland is believed to be the main potential source of
semiochemicals in this group indicating its importance in
chemical signalling, an essential component of the communication system of lizards.[3]
Genera
The family Tropiduridae contains the following eight
genera.[1]
Bell T (1843). The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Under the Command of
Captain Fitzroy, R.N., during the years 1832 to 1836. Edited and Superintended by
Charles Darwin ... Naturalist to the Expedition. Part V. Reptiles. London: Smith, Elder and Company. vi + 51 pp. + Plates 1-20. (Tropiduridae, new family, p. 1). (in English and Latin).