岩鬣蜥
岩鬣蜥是岩鬣蜥属(Cyclura,又名圆尾蜥属或圆尾鬣蜥属)的蜥蜴,分布在加勒比地区。[1]牠们是高度的特有种,在每一个岛上都只有一个物种或亚种。[2][3]
岩鬣蜥属 | |
---|---|
犀牛鬣蜥 | |
科学分类 | |
界: | 动物界 Animalia |
门: | 脊索动物门 Chordata |
纲: | 爬行纲 Reptilia |
目: | 有鳞目 Squamata |
亚目: | 鬣蜥亚目 Iguania |
科: | 美洲鬣蜥科 Iguanidae |
属: | 圆尾蜥属 Cyclura Harlan, 1825 |
种 | |
参见内文 |
分类
岩鬣蜥属的学名是来自古希腊文的“圆尾”,取自牠们尾巴上的厚环,中文以圆尾蜥属翻译最接近。[4]现时岩鬣蜥属共有9个已描述的物种及8个确认的亚种。[2][5][6][7][8][9]
栖息地
岩鬣蜥一般分布在加勒比地区的亚热带。牠们栖息在石灰岩及稀疏植被的环境,植被包括干旱度中等的洋槐森林至较高的仙人掌。[11]这些岛屿都是没有火山的,有很多天然的石灰岩洞穴藏身。[11]
食性及寿命
岩鬣蜥主要都是草食性的,吃不同种类的叶子、花朵、草莓及果实。[3]一项研究发现岩鬣蜥曾吞下的种子发芽较其他的快[12][13],这些种子也有一种适应性会在非常短的雨季内萌芽。[13]岩鬣蜥也扮演了传播种子到其他地方的角色,尤其是当雌蜥迁徙至繁殖地时。故此岩鬣蜥可以保持生态系统的平衡。[13]岩鬣蜥较罕见的也会吃昆虫幼虫、蟹、蛞蝓、鸟类尸体及真菌。个别个体也有是肉食性的。[3]
在饲养下出生的岩鬣蜥中,纪录最长寿的是开曼鬣蜥,寿命达33岁。[14]另外,于1950年在大开曼曾捕获一只蓝岩鬣蜥,于1985年进口到美国,后来于1997年借往德克萨斯州格拉迪波特动物园(Gladys Porter Zoo)。[15]动物园内的职员将牠命名为哥斯拉,并一直活到2004年。[15]在被捕捉时相信牠是15岁[15],临终时69岁,是世界上最长寿的蜥蜴。[15]
繁殖
岩鬣蜥是两性异形的。[16][17]雄蜥比雌蜥较大,背冠也较明显。雄蜥的大腿上有股孔,用来释放费洛蒙。
雄蜥一般在3-7岁就达至性成熟,详细要视乎物种及亚种而定;[16]雌蜥稍快,2-5岁就已达至性成熟。除了埃克斯马鬣蜥外,其他雄蜥都是高度地盘性的。[16]牠们会于每年第一个雨季前或开始时(约5-6月)进行交配,时间长达2-3个星期。[16]雌蜥每次会生2-34只蛋,平均每40天就生17只蛋。[16]大部分雌蜥都会在生蛋后几日保护巢穴,孵化期为85天。[16]岩鬣蜥蛋是所有蜥蜴中最大的。[16]
保育状况
所有岩鬣蜥都是濒危物种[13][18]:其中9种是处于极危、4种濒危、3种易危及1种相信已经在野外灭绝。[2]由于岩鬣蜥可以平衡生态系统,牠们的消失会造成严重的影响。[13]由于牠们的数量非常稀少,加上土地的开发、过度放牧家畜及被野生哺乳动物和人类的猎杀,都对牠们造成直接或间接的伤害。[2]
保育计划
于1990年,美国动物园与水族馆协会(American Zoo and Aquarium Association)将岩鬣蜥定为最优先保育的动物。[18]他们率先饲养繁殖极危的蓝岩鬣蜥。[18]
印第安纳波利斯动物园(Indianapolis Zoo)展开了对16种岩鬣蜥的研究及保育计划。[18]计划包括了定立饲养及野生的生物基准值、科学调查、保育工作、实地调研及饲养繁殖计划。[18]动物园已在多米尼加共和国工作了接近10年,并继续瑞克岩鬣蜥的研究及保育。[19]
参考
- ^ Dayhuff, Becky. Rock Iguanas of the Caribbean. All at Sea Magazine. 2006-02-01 [2009-08-24]. (原始内容存档于2020-04-07).
- ^ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Malone, Catherine; Davis, Scott. Genetic Contributions to Caribbean Iguana Conservation. Iguanas: Biology and Conservation. University of California Press. 2004: 45–57. ISBN 9780520238541.
- ^ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Blair, David. West Indian Iguanas of The Genus Cyclura Their Current Status in the Wild, Conservation Priorities and Efforts to Breed Them in Captivity (PDF). Northern California Herpetological Society Special Publication. 1991, SE (6): 55–56. (原始内容 (PDF)存档于2008-04-11).
- ^ Sanchez, Alejandro. Family Iguanidae: Iguanas and Their Kin. Father Sanchez's Web Site of West Indian Natural History Diapsids I: Introduction; Lizards. Kingsnake.com. [2007-11-26]. (原始内容存档于2010-04-21).
- ^ Cyclura: Harlan, 1825. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2001 [2007-10-07]. (原始内容存档于2020-10-31).
- ^ Schwartz, A.; Carey, M. Systematics and evolution in the West Indian iguanid genus Cyclura. Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao and Other Caribbean Islands. 1977, 173: 15–97.
- ^ Frost, D.E. and R.E. Etheridge (1989) A Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Iguanian Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata). Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 81
- ^ Frost, D.R., R. Etheridge, D. Janies and T.A. Titus (2001) Total evidence, sequence alignment, evolution of Polychrotid lizards, and a reclassification of the Iguania (Squamata: Iguania). American Museum Novitates 3343: 38 pp.
- ^ Hollingsworth, Bradford D. The Evolution of Iguanas: An Overview of Relationships and a Checklist of Species. Iguanas: Biology and Conservation (University of California Press). 2004: 35–39. ISBN 9780520238541.
- ^ Burton, Frederic. Taxonomic Status of the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (PDF). Caribbean Journal of Science. 2004, 8 (1): 198–203 [2007-09-16]. (原始内容 (PDF)存档于2007-10-25).
- ^ 11.0 11.1 Knapp, Charles R.; Hudson, Richard D. Translocation Strategies as a Conservation Tool for West Indian Iguanas. Iguanas: Biology and Conservation. University of California Press. 2004: 199–209. ISBN 9780520238541.
- ^ Derr, Mark, In Caribbean, Endangered Iguanas Get Their Day, New York Times Science Section, 2000-10-10
- ^ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Allison Alberts, Jeffrey Lemm, Tandora Grant & Lori Jackintell. Testing the Utility of Headstarting as a Conservation Strategy for West Indian Iguanas. Iguanas: Biology and Conservation. University of California Press. 2004: 210. ISBN 9780520238541.
- ^ John Iverson, Geoffrey Smith & Lynne Pieper. Factors Affecting Long-Term Growth of the Allen Cays Rock Iguana in the Bahamas. Iguanas: Biology and Conservation. University of California Press. 2004: 184. ISBN 9780520238541.
- ^ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Adams, Colette. Obituary (PDF). Iguana Specialist Group Newsletter. 2004-05-26, 7 (1): 2. (原始内容 (PDF)存档于2007-08-12).
- ^ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 De Vosjoli, Phillipe; David Blair. The Green Iguana Manual. Escondido, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems. 1992. ISBN 74886904040 请检查
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值 (帮助). - ^ Martins, Emilia P.; Lacy, Kathryn. Behavior and Ecology of Rock Iguanas,I: Evidence for an Appeasement Display. Iguanas: Biology and Conservation. University of California Press. 2004: 98–108. ISBN 9780520238541.
- ^ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Hudson, Richard D.; Alberts, Allison C. The Role of Zoos in the Conservation of West Indian Iguanas. Iguanas: Biology and Conservation. University of California Press. 2004: 274–89. ISBN 9780520238541.
- ^ Wyatt, III, John E. Indianapolis Zoo Conducts Ricord’s Iguana Field Research. Project Iguana. Indianapolis Zoo. 2003 [2007-10-04]. (原始内容存档于2008-02-06).