About Gymnophthalmus underwoodi Grant, 1958
Taxonomy and Common Name
Gymnophthalmus underwoodi, commonly known as Underwood's spectacled tegu, is a species of microteiid lizard.
Native Range Overview
Its native geographic range spans multiple Caribbean islands and parts of South America.
Lesser Antilles Distribution
In the Lesser Antilles, it is found on Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Antigua, Barbuda, Trinidad, Tobago, and Dominica; its presence on Dominica has been confirmed by studies published in 2002 and 2010.
South American Distribution
In South America, it occurs in Guyana, Suriname, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Non-native Populations
Widely established non-native populations of this lizard have resulted from recent incursions on Saba and Sint Eustatius.
Natural Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Gymnophthalmus underwoodi is grassland.
Reproductive Mode
This species is unisexual and reproduces via parthenogenesis.
Captive Reproductive Data
Captive individuals have been recorded laying up to eleven eggs over a four-month period, with clutches containing between one and four eggs each.
