Post by another specialist on Jun 17, 2008 10:27:47 GMT
A genus of mainly caribbean tropidurid lizards. A few extinct species Leiocephalus anonymous, L. apertosulcus, L. cuneus, L. endomychus, L. etheridgei and L. jamaicensis are known to have lived in the caribbean region in recent time as well.
Classified as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) because of its restricted extent of occurrence (with an extent of occurrence estimated to be below 100 km2, and an area of occupancy that while unquantified is certainly highly restricted), and it is found in a single location that is affected by ongoing threats from agriculture expansion, urban development, charcoal production and wood harvesting. It has not been recorded since 1976 despite its occurrence in a heavily-populated area, and as a large diurnal lizard any surviving population would be expected to be conspicuous. The species may be extinct, however, only one recent survey has been conducted in the localities where it was collected and so listing it as Extinct is considered premature.
This species is known from Hispaniola, where it occurs on Plateau Central, Haiti (Powell and Henderson 2009, Schwartz 1967). All records are historical and it is thought that its actual extent of occurrence is less than 100 km2 (B. Hedges, M. Landestoy and S. Incháustegui pers. comm. 2015). The mapped distribution encompassing the entire plateau certainly overestimates the species' range; while it may naturally have ranged through much of the plateau the area from which is known is extremely heavily-impacted by vegetation clearance, and if the species survives its remaining range is undoubtedly far more restricted than it would have been historically (S.B. Hedges pers. comm. 2016).
This is a rare species, known only from a collection in 1962 and from 15 records taken in 1976 (GBIF database). It has not been reported since 1976 and it is believed to be possibly extinct (B. Hedges pers. comm. 2015), however only a single recent survey has been conducted in this area.
