Published July 16, 2018. Updated December 3, 2023. Open access. | Purchase book ❯ |
Spiny Dwarf-Iguana (Enyalioides heterolepis)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Sauria | Hoplocercidae | Enyalioides heterolepis
English common names: Spiny Dwarf-Iguana, Spiny Woodlizard, Bocourt’s Dwarf Iguana.
Spanish common names: Iguana enana espinosa, lagartija de palo espinosa.
Recognition: ♂♂ 33.4 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=18.2 cm. ♀♀ 31.1 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=11.5 cm..1–3 Enyalioides heterolepis is unique among dwarf iguanas in western Ecuador in having a dark triangle-shaped mark beneath the eye, a pale vertical line above the arm, and a low serrated middorsal crest which is continuous but higher on the nape (Fig. 1).1–4 The species further differs from all other Enyalioides with which it co-occurs by having scattered, projecting, tetrahedral large scales on dorsum, flanks, and hind limbs.1
Figure 1: Individuals of Enyalioides heterolepis from Morromico Reserve, Chocó department, Colombia (); Itapoa Reserve, Esmeraldas province, Ecuador (); Canandé Reserve, Esmeraldas province, Ecuador (). j=juvenile.
Natural history: Enyalioides heterolepis is a locally frequent lizard that is nevertheless difficult to observe during the daytime due to its cryptic camouflage. This species occurs in pristine lowland rainforests as well as in heavily disturbed gallery forests and even plantations.1 Spiny Woodlizards are active during the daytime on shaded areas of the forest floor, staying immobile for prolonged periods of time on the leaf-litter or on logs.1,5 At night, they roost on stems and twigs 0.2–1.7 m above the ground, sometimes next to streams.1 They tend to sleep beside their den, to which they retreat upon the slightest disturbance.1–5 The den is usually a hole in the ground, but can also be a hollow log or a tunnel among tree roots or amidst the aerial roots of palms.2,5 Occasionally, the lizards choose to spend the night in the den or under leaf-litter.3,5 Their preferred predator avoidance strategy is staying still and blending against the leaf-litter or running into holes. The diet in this ambush predator consists primarily of ants, crickets, beetles, and spiders.1,6 There are recorded instances of predation on individuals of this species by snakes (Clelia clelia and Rhinobothryum bovallii).5 Females of E. heterolepis containing two eggs have been found in Ecuador,1 but the real clutch size is not known.
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..7 Enyalioides heterolepis is listed in this category primarily on the basis of the species’ wide distribution, presumed large population densities, and presence in protected areas. Although E. heterolepis is considered to be facing no major immediate extinction threats, the species does not survive outside closed canopy lowland rainforests, an ecosystem declining in extent and quality due to the expansion of the agricultural frontier.
Distribution: Enyalioides heterolepis is widely distributed throughout the Chocoan lowlands of Panamá, Colombia, and Ecuador (Fig. 2).
Figure 2: Distribution of Enyalioides heterolepis in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The generic name Enyalioides, which comes from the Latin words Enyalius (a genus of neotropical lizards) and the suffix oides (=similar to), refers to the similarity between lizards of the two genera. The specific epithet heterolepis comes from the Greek words heteros (=different) and lepis (=scale),8 and refers to the heterogeneous dorsal scales.
See it in the wild: Spiny Dwarf-Iguanas are usually found in closed-canopy situations rather than in open or semi-open areas. These cryptic reptiles are easier to detect by sampling well-preserved forest trails at night with the aid of a flashlight. In this way, roosting individuals may be detected at a rate of at least one per night, particularly at Canandé Reserve and Centro Científico Río Palenque.
Authors: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador. and Gabriela AguiarbIndependent researcher, Quito, Ecuador.
Photographer: Jose VieiracAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,dAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.
How to cite? Arteaga A, Aguiar G (2023) Spiny Dwarf-Iguana (Enyalioides heterolepis). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/EYEO2742
Literature cited:
- Torres-Carvajal O, Etheridge R, de Queiroz K (2011) A systematic revision of Neotropical lizards in the clade Hoplocercinae (Squamata: Iguania). Zootaxa 2752: 1–44. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2752.1.1
- Castro Herrera F, Ayala SC (1988) Saurios de Colombia. Unpublished, Bogotá, 692 pp.
- Eisenberg T, Pantchev N (2010) Notes on body size and natural history of Enyalioides heterolepis (Bocourt 1874) in its northernmost population in Panama. Herpetological Bulletin 111: 12–14.
- Lotzkat S (2014) Diversity, taxonomy, and biogeography of the reptiles inhabiting the highlands of the Cordillera Central (Serranía de Talamanca and Serranía de Tabasará) in western Panama. PhD thesis, Goethe-Universität in Frankfurt am Main, 931 pp.
- Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
- MECN, JOCOTOCO, ECOMINGA (2013) Herpetofauna en áreas prioritarias para la conservación: el sistema de reservas Jocotoco y Ecominga. Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales, Quito, 408 pp.
- Ibáñez R, Ines Hladki A, Jaramillo C, Ramírez Pinilla M, Renjifo J, Urbina N (2016) Enyalioides heterolepis. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T203067A2759766.en
- Brown RW (1956) Composition of scientific words. Smithsonian Books, Washington D.C., 882 pp.
Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Enyalioides heterolepis in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.
| Country | Province | Locality | Source |
| Colombia | Nariño | Camino a Cuatala | Borja-Acosta & Galeano Muñoz 2023 |
| Colombia | Nariño | Cascada Chinangüí | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Nariño | El Palmichal | Pinto-Erazo et al. 2020 |
| Colombia | Nariño | Reserva Natural El Pangán | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Carchi | Tobar Donoso | Yánez-Muñoz et al. 2009 |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Bosque Privado El Jardín de los Sueños | Pellet 2017 |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Yakusinchi | Photo by Jane Sloan |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Alto Tambo | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Angostura | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Bilsa Biological Reserve | Ortega-Andrade et al. 2010 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Bloque Sirúa | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Bosque Protector La Chiquita | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Cabeceras de Bilsa | Almendariz & Carr 2007 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Caimito | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Canandé Biological Reserve | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Carondelet | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Cerro Mutiles | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Cerro Zapallo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Charco Vicente | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Corriente Grande | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Durango | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Estero Pote | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Gallinazo | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Gualpí | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Inés | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Itapoa Reserve | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Jeyambi | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | La Lagartera | GBIF |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | La Tabla | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Lagarto, Reserva Mayronga | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Loma Linda | Pazmiño Otamendi 2020 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Lote Rosero | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Lote Salvadores | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Mompiche | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Padre Santo | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Pajonal | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Partidero-Poza Honda | Vázquez et al. 2005 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Pichiyacu | Pazmiño Otamendi 2020 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Quinindé | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Reserva Mache Chindul | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Río Palabí | Wiens and Etheridge 2003 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Río Santiago | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Salto del Bravo | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | San Javier | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | San Miguel de Cayapas | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | San Salvador | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Santa Rita | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Tangareal | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Tsejpi | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Tundaloma Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Zabalito | Morales-Mite 2004 |
| Ecuador | Imbabura | Lita | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Centro Científico Río Palenque | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Cerro Samama | Pazmiño Otamendi 2020 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Zapotal | Photo by Pablo Loaiza |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Carmen, 23 km SW of | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Carmen, 38 km NW of | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Cascada Las Caídas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Cerro Pata de Pájaro | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | El Carmen | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | El Guayacán | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Eloy Alfaro | Photo by Redgy Vera |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Hacienda Siberia | Hamilton et al. 2005 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Las Villegas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Reserva Jama Coaque | Lynch et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Three Forests Trail | Photo by Paul Maier |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Bosque Protector Mindo Nabillo | Photo by Milton Narváez |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | El Chalpi-Saguangal | Yánez-Muñoz et al. 2009 |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | El Esfuerzo, 4 km ESE of | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Hostería Selva Virgen | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Mangaloma | Photo by Andreas Kay |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Mashpi Reserve | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Palma Real | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Puerto Quito | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Río Blanco | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Río Caoni | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Río Silanche Wildlife Sanctuary | Photo by Andreas Kay |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Río Toachi | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Saragoza–Río Cinto | Yánez-Muñoz et al. 2009 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Hacienda Tinalandia | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | La Florida | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Reserva Forestal La Perla | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Santo Domingo | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Santo Domingo, 30 km E of | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Santo Domingo, 30 km NW of | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011 |