Griswold's ameiva (Pholidoscelis griswoldi) is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is endemic to Antigua and Barbuda, where it is found on both islands. It is also known commonly as the Antiguan ameiva and the Antiguan ground lizard.
Etymology
The specific name, griswoldi, is in honor of Dr. Donald W. Griswold who was Director of the Rockefeller West Indian Hookworm Commission.
Geographic range
P. griswoldi is common on Barbuda, and more common on the offshore islands of Antigua than on that main island.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of P. griswoldi is forest, but it is also found in cities.
Description
Populations of P. griswoldi on Barbuda are dark brown with irregular, cream-colored splotches. The flanks are pale blue-green and tan, with black spots and markings. The ventral surface is gray with black on its chest.
Diet
P. griswoldi preys upon invertebrates, small lizards, and bird eggs, and it will also eat food scraps left by humans.
ReproductionP. griswoldi is oviparous.
See also
Antigua and Barbuda
Antiguan racer
References
Further reading
Barbour T (1916). "Additional Notes on West Indian Reptiles and Amphibians". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 29: 215-220. (Ameiva griswoldi, new species, pp. 216–217). Goicoechea, Noemí; Frost, Darrel R.; De la Riva, Ignacio; Pellegrino, Katia C. M.; Sites, Jack Jr; Rodrigues, Miguel T.; Padial, José M. (2016). "Molecular systematics of teioid lizards (Teioidea/Gymnophthalmoidea: Squamata) based on the analysis of 48 loci under tree-alignment and similarity-alignment". Cladistics 32 (6): 624-671. (Pholidoscelis griswoldi, new combination).
Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Ameiva griswoldi'', p. 59).