Ameiva ameiva

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Cladus: Unidentata Episquamata

Subordo: Lacertoidea
Superfamilia: Gymnophthalmoidea

Familia: Teiidae
Subfamilia: Teiinae
Genus: Ameiva
Species: Ameiva ameiva
Subspecies (2): A. a. ameiva – A. a. tobagana
Name

Ameiva ameiva (Linnaeus, 1758)

Syntypes (3): NRM 120 and 124; UUZM 12.

Type locality: “America”, restricted to “the confluence of the Cottica River and the Perica Creek, Suriname” by Hoogmoed (1973: 44).
Combinations

Lacerta ameiva Linnaeus, 1758: 202 [original combination]

References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiæ: impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii
Hoogmoed, M.S. 1973. Notes on the herpetofauna of Surinam IV: the lizards and amphisbaenians of Surinam. Biogeographica Volume 1–5. Dr. W. Junk b.v. Publishers: The Hague. 419 pp.

Links

Uetz, P. & Hallermann, J. 2021. Ameiva ameiva. The Reptile Database. Accessed on 28 June 2018.

Vernacular names
Deutsch: Ameive
English: Giant Ameiva
français: Ameive commun
português do Brasil: Bico-doce
українська: Амейва звичайна

Ameiva ameiva, also known as the giant ameiva, green ameiva, South American ground lizard, or Amazon racerunner, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae found in Central and South America, some Caribbean Islands, and throughoutMiami-Dade County,Florida
Geographic range

It is widespread in Central America and South America, including: Belize, Panama, Brazil, Colombia, Surinam, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, and Paraguay. It is also found on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, the Grenadines, Barbados, Margarita, Swan Island, and Isla de la Providencia.[1] It was also once present on Saint Vincent but has since been extirpated.
Description

Ameiva ameiva has a streamlined body, pointed head, slightly forked tongue, and muscular hind legs. They grow to approximately 45–50 cm (18–20 in). Both sexes have random black specs and mottling along the sides. Females usually have much less green than males and a more dusty of a green color. Males have vibrant green coloration and more bold mottling. Males also have more expanded jowls. They are popular as a pet because of the male's striking green coloration.
Habitat

They live on the forest floor, often sheltering underneath logs and in leaf litter. Captive individuals have been observed making tunnels spanning out from under a log or rock when given enough soil.
Diet

Its diet consists of mainly insects (such as grasshoppers, butterflies, cockroaches, beetles, termites, and insect larvae),[2][3] frogs, other lizards[4] (such as anoles),[5] and spiders. In captivity, mealworms are a favorite of the ameiva along with crickets.
Reproduction

The female lays several clutches of eggs from March to December.
Invasive species

This species has been introduced into the United States with thriving populations in South Florida.
Parasites

This species is infected by a number of protist parasites including:

Acroeimeria pintoi
Choleoeimeria carinii
Plasmodium attenuatum
Plasmodium carmelinoi
Plasmodium cnemidophori
Plasmodium diminutivum
Plasmodium minasense
Plasmodium pifanoi
Plasmodium telfordi
Sarcocystis ameivamastigodryasi

"Amongusenepedia"
References

Ameiva ameiva Reptile Database
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ameiva_ameiva/
https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/images/Ameiva%20ameiva%20-%20Zandolie%20or%20Jungle%20Runner.pdf
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ameiva_ameiva/

https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/images/Ameiva%20ameiva%20-%20Zandolie%20or%20Jungle%20Runner.pdf

Malhotra, Anita; Thorpe, Roger S. (1999). Reptiles & Amphibians of the Eastern Caribbean. Macmillan Education Ltd. pp. 101, 104, 106. ISBN 0-333-69141-5.