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DOI10.47051/DLVU2368 Published May 12, 2022. Updated November 23, 2023. Open access. Peer-reviewed.

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Common Root Lizard (Loxopholis parietalis)

Reptiles of Ecuador | Sauria | Gymnophthalmidae | Loxopholis parietalis

English common names: Common Root Lizard, Striped Root-Lizard, Red-bellied Root Lizard, Common Root Teju.

Spanish common name: Lagartija común de raíces.

Recognition: ♂♂ 9.3 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=4.4 cm. ♀♀ 9.4 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=4.0 cm..^1–3 The Common Root Lizard (Loxopholis parietalis) is a small, slender and brownish lizard having distinctly keeled dorsal head scales and three large, flattened posterior parietal scales forming a semicircle.^1,2 Both the dorsal and ventral scales are imbricate, keeled, and leaf-shaped.^1,2 In Amazonian Ecuador, L. parietalis can be confused with lizards of the genus Alopoglossus, from which it differs by having keeled dorsal head scales.¹ During the reproductive period, males of L. parietalis acquire a bright reddish-orange ventral coloration (Fig. 1); in females and juveniles, the ventral surfaces remain white or cream.^1,4 Males also differ from females by having 4 preanal pores in addition to 10–17 femoral pores (0–1 preanal pores and no femoral pores in females).²

Figure 1: Individuals of Loxopholis parietalis from Ecuador: Aguas Negras Lodge, Sucumbíos province (); Huella Verde Lodge, Pastaza province (); Ecuador. j=juvenile.

Natural history: Loxopholis parietalis is usually the most common leaf-litter lizard wherever it occurs. This species inhabits areas of old-growth to⁴ moderately disturbed lowland rainforest,⁵ as well as forest edges, clearings,^1,6,7 and grasslands.⁸ Common Root Lizards are diurnal,⁹ terrestrial, and primarily active whenever filtered sun reaches the forest floor,¹ but also during cloudy days and even during heavy rains.⁴ These lizards are leaf-litter specialists,^5,10 but they also utilize logs,² the base of trees, stemless palm fronds, and tangled vegetation¹¹ up to 50 cm above the ground.¹⁰ They occur on dry land¹⁰ and sand hills but also in damp areas such as depressions in the forest floor, edge of swamps, and along streams.^4,12 When inactive or disturbed, these shy lizard take refuge in the leaf-litter or under logs or piles of wood.^1,11 Common Root Lizards are active foragers. Their diet is dominated by invertebrates such as spiders, termites, cockroaches, caterpillars, and a variety of other insects.^1,4 Individuals of L. parietalis have been confirmed as prey items of snakes (Oxyrhopus vanidicus,¹ Micrurus ortoni,¹³ and Bothrops atrox²) and lizards (Anolis scypheus,¹ Potamites ecpleopus,¹ and members of its own species¹). The breeding season in L. parietalis is believed to be acyclical,¹ since gravid females have been found throughout the year.^4,12 The clutch consists of two eggs^1,4 and the hatchlings measure 17–19 mm in snout-vent-length.¹²

Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..^14–17 Loxopholis parietalis is included in this category because it is a common and widely distributed species believed to have large and stable populations facing no major immediate extinction threats.¹⁵ Additionally, L. parietalis is found in dozens of national parks and reserves and occurs over areas that have not been heavily affected by deforestation. Based on maps of Ecuador’s vegetation cover published in 2012,¹⁸ the majority (~89%) of the species’ potential distribution in this country still holds large continuous forest habitat, and ~23% of this area is inside national parks.

Distribution: Loxopholis parietalis is native to the Amazon basin of Colombia, Ecuador (Fig. 2), and Perú.² The species also occurs along the Andean foothills of western Venezuela.¹⁹

Figure 2: Distribution of Loxopholis parietalis in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.

Etymology: The generic name Loxopholis, which comes from the Greek words loxos (=slanting) and pholis (=scale),²⁰ probably refers to the obliquely arranged dorsal scales of L. rugiceps, the type species of the genus.²¹ The specific epithet parietalis probably refers to the unusual shape and arrangement of the parietal scales in this species.²²

See it in the wild: Common Root Lizards can be seen with almost complete certainty in forested areas throughout the species’ area of distribution in Ecuador. The species is particularly abundant in terra-firme forests of Yasuní National Park, Cuyabeno Reserve, and Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve. These lizards can easily be spotted by carefully scanning the leaf-litter along forest trails during sunny days.

Author: Amanda Quezada^aAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.^,bAffiliation: Laboratorio de Herpetología, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador.

Editor: Alejandro Arteaga^cAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.

Academic reviewer: Jeffrey D Camper^dAffiliation: Department of Biology, Francis Marion University, Florence, USA.

Photographer: Jose Vieira^aAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.^,eAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.

How to cite? Quezada A (2023) Common Root Lizard (Loxopholis parietalis). 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/DLVU2368

Literature cited:

1. Duellman WE (1978) The biology of an equatorial herpetofauna in Amazonian Ecuador. Publications of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas 65: 1–352.
2. Avila-Pires TCS (1995) Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata). Zoologische Verhandelingen 299: 1–706.
3. Esqueda LF (2005) Un nuevo Leposoma (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) de la reserva forestal de Caparo, estado Barinas, Venezuela. Herpetotropicos 2: 33–42.
4. Vitt LJ, De la Torre S (1996) A research guide to the lizards of Cuyabeno. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, 165 pp.
5. Lescure J, Gasc JP (1986) Partage de l’espace forestier par les amphibiens et les reptiles en Amazonie du nord-ouest. Caldasia 15: 707–723.
6. Layche JF, Ribeyro BO, Acosta A (2010) Herpetofauna en bosque de varillal del Centro de Investigación y Enseñanza Forestal (CIEFOR) – Puerto Almendras, Iquitos – Perú. Acta Biológica Herreriana 1: 35–42.
7. Whitworth A, Beirne C (2011) Reptiles of the Yachana Reserve. Global Vision International, Exeter, 130 pp.
8. Beirne C, Burdekin O, Whitworth A (2013) Herpetofaunal responses to anthropogenic habitat change within a small forest reserve in eastern Ecuador. The Herpetological Journal 23: 209–219.
9. Almendáriz A (1987) Contribución al conocimiento de la herpetofauna centroriental Ecuatoriana. Revista Politécnica 12: 77–133.
10. Vitt LJ, Zani PA (1996) Organization of a taxonomically diverse lizard assemblage in Amazonian Ecuador. Canadian Journal of Zoology 74: 1313–1335.
11. Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
12. Dixon JR, Soini P (1986) The reptiles of the upper Amazon Basin, Iquitos region, Peru. Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, 154 pp.
13. Martins M, Oliveira ME (1998) Natural history of snakes in forests of the Manaus region, Central Amazonia, Brazil. Herpetological Natural History 6: 78–150.
14. Morales-Betancourt MA, Lasso CA, Páez VP, Bock BC (2005) Libro rojo de reptiles de Colombia. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, 257 pp.
15. Rivas G, Calderón M, Moravec J (2016) Loxopholis parietalis. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T178582A44955190.en
16. Reyes-Puig C (2015) Un método integrativo para evaluar el estado de conservación de las especies y su aplicación a los reptiles del Ecuador. MSc thesis, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, 73 pp.
17. Carrillo E, Aldás A, Altamirano M, Ayala F, Cisneros-Heredia DF, Endara A, Márquez C, Morales M, Nogales F, Salvador P, Torres ML, Valencia J, Villamarín F, Yánez-Muñoz M, Zárate P (2005) Lista roja de los reptiles del Ecuador. Fundación Novum Millenium, Quito, 46 pp.
18. MAE (2012) Línea base de deforestación del Ecuador continental. Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador, Quito, 30 pp.
19. Esqueda LF, La Marca E, Natera M, Battiston P (2001) Noteworthy reptilian state records and a lizard species new to the herpetofauna of Venezuela. Herpetological Review 32: 198–200.
20. Brown RW (1956) Composition of scientific words. Smithsonian Books, Washington D.C., 882 pp.
21. Cope ED (1868) Sixth contribution to the herpetology of tropical America. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 20: 305–313.
22. Cope ED (1886) Catalogue of the species of batrachians and reptiles contained in a collection made at Pebas, Upper Amazon, by John Hauxwell. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 23: 94–103.

Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Loxopholis parietalis in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.

Country	Province	Locality	Source
Colombia	Caquetá	Monserrate	Gutiérrez-Lamus et al. 2020
Colombia	Caquetá	Morelia	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Colombia	Caquetá	Río Caguán and Río Caquetá confluence, 6 km N of	Medina-Rangel et al. 2019
Colombia	Caquetá	Río Orotuya and Río Caquetá confluence, 18 km N of	Medina-Rangel et al. 2019
Colombia	Caquetá	Río Yuruyaco	IAvH-R-4887; Borja-Acosta & Galeano Muñoz 2023
Colombia	Caquetá	Villa María	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Colombia	Putumayo	Centro Experimental Amazónico	Betancourth-Cundar & Gutiérrez-Zamora 2010
Colombia	Putumayo	Cocaya	ICN 5484; Borja-Acosta & Galeano Muñoz 2023
Colombia	Putumayo	La Castellana	ICN 5485; Borja-Acosta & Galeano Muñoz 2023
Colombia	Putumayo	Mocoa, 10 km S of	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Colombia	Putumayo	Mocoa, 7 km S of	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Colombia	Putumayo	Puerto Asís	LACM 44672; VertNet
Colombia	Putumayo	Santa Rosa de Sucumbíos	Avila-Pires 1995
Colombia	Putumayo	Simón Bolívar	iNaturalist; photo examined
Colombia	Putumayo	Vereda La Esmeralda	IAvH-R-9283; Borja-Acosta & Galeano Muñoz 2023
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Cusuime	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Estación Biológica Wisui	Chaparro et al. 2011
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Lagarto Cocha	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Marantian Wildlife Refuge	Photo by Alex Achig
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Mirador de la Virgen	Photo by Fernando Ayala
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Río Llushin	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Santiago de Tiwintza, 1.5 km NE of	Online multimedia
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Shuin Mamus	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Taisha	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Villa Ashuara	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Napo	Ahuano	Photo by Diego Piñán
Ecuador	Napo	Gareno Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Napo	Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve	Narváez & Sanmartín-Villar 2016
Ecuador	Napo	La Cruz Blanca	MCZ R-171943
Ecuador	Napo	Lago Agrio	Duellman 1978
Ecuador	Napo	Pitalala Reserve	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Napo	Río Pucuno	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Napo	San Francisco	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Napo	Suchipakari Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Napo	Tena	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Napo	Yachana Reserve	Beirne et al. 2013
Ecuador	Orellana	Apaika	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Bloque 31	Libro PetroAmazonas
Ecuador	Orellana	Bloque Pindo	Paulina Romero, pers. comm.
Ecuador	Orellana	Campo Obe	Carvajal-Campos 2020
Ecuador	Orellana	Cordillera de Galeras	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Orellana	El Coca	MHNG 2437.073; collection database
Ecuador	Orellana	El Edén	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Guiyero	Almendáriz 2011
Ecuador	Orellana	Hacienda Primavera	MHNG 2590.083; collection database
Ecuador	Orellana	Kawymeno (Kawimeno)	Comuna Kawimeno Huaorani
Ecuador	Orellana	Loreto	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Orellana	NWC Welcome Center	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Orellana	Río Bigal Reserve	Photo by Thierry García
Ecuador	Orellana	Río Yasuní, near Lake Jatuncocha	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Orellana	San José de Payamino	Maynard et al. 2017
Ecuador	Orellana	San Jose Viejo de Sumaco	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Orellana	Shiripuno Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Sitio A65	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Tigüino	USNM 321092; VertNet
Ecuador	Orellana	Tiputini Biodiversity Station	Cisneros-Heredia 2006
Ecuador	Orellana	Yarina Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Orellana	Yasuní Scientific Station	Vitt & Zani 1996
Ecuador	Pastaza	Balsaura	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Bataburo Lodge	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Chuintza	Almendáriz 1987
Ecuador	Pastaza	Conambo	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Destacamento Militar Shiona	Avila-Pires 1995
Ecuador	Pastaza	Estación Agro-Ecológica Fátima	Proaño-Morales et al. 2017
Ecuador	Pastaza	Huella Verde Lodge	This work; Fig. 1
Ecuador	Pastaza	Jatun Molino	Photo by Morley Read
Ecuador	Pastaza	Juyuintza	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Kurintza	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Montalvo	Almendáriz 1987
Ecuador	Pastaza	Pindoyacu	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Pozo Huito	Avila-Pires 1995
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Bufeo	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Sarayacu	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Aguas Negras Lodge	This work; Fig. 1
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Baboroé, vicinity of	Yánez-Muñoz & Chimbo 2007
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Bermejo	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Blanca	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Bloque 27	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Campo Platanillo	Envirotec 2015
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Cofán Bermejo Ecological Reserve	Yanez-Muñoz et al. 2017
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Comunidad Cofán Pisorié	Yánez-Muñoz & Chimbo 2007
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Cuyabeno Wildlife Production Reserve	Pellegrino et al. 2011
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Estación Amazonas OCP	Valencia & Garzón 2011
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Garzacocha	Yáñez-Muñoz & Venegas 2008
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Güeppicillo	Yáñez-Muñoz & Venegas 2008
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	La Balsareña	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Lago Agrio, 7 km NW of	IDIGBIO 43223
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Laguna Grande	Vitt & De la Torre 1996
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Laguna Pañacocha	MHNG 2590.078
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Limoncocha Biological Reserve	Uzzell & Barry 1971
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Lumbaqui	Dueñas-Tituaña 2015
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Puerto Libre	Duellman 1978
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Puerto Ore	Duellman 1978
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Reserva Dureno	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Eno	Carvajal-Campos 2020
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Pañayacu	USNM 163430; VertNet
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Sacha Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	San Pablo de Kantesiya	Avila-Pires 1995
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Sani Lodge	Thomas et al. 2020
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Sansahuari	Yáñez-Muñoz et al. 2010
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Santa Cecilia	Duellman 1978
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Santa Elena	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Tapir Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Tarapoa, 7 km W of	MCZ R-163234; VertNet
Perú	Amazonas	Caterpiza	USNM 568723; VertNet
Perú	Amazonas	La Poza, Río Santiago	USNM 568730; VertNet
Perú	Amazonas	Shiringa	USNM 568733; VertNet
Perú	Loreto	Bellavista, 15 km S of	USNM 565883; VertNet
Perú	Loreto	Campo Andoas	Valqui Schult 2015
Perú	Loreto	Güeppí Reserved Zone	Yáñez-Muñoz & Venegas 2008
Perú	Loreto	Lagarto Cocha, Aguas Negras	USNM 521045; VertNet
Perú	Loreto	Mashunta	Pérez-Peña et al. 2019
Perú	Loreto	Moropon	Rodrigues & Avila-Pires 2005
Perú	Loreto	Redondococha	Yáñez-Muñoz & Venegas 2008

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