Leiocephalus barahonensis Schmidt, 1921

Common Names and Taxonomic Authority

Leiocephalus barahonensis, described by Schmidt in 1921, is commonly known as the orange-bellied curlytail or Barahona curlytail lizard.

Family and Distribution

It is a species of curly-tailed lizard in the family Leiocephalidae, and it is endemic to Hispaniola, including some of Hispaniola's outlying islands.

Recognized Subspecies

Five subspecies are formally recognized: Leiocephalus barahonensis barahonensis Schmidt, 1921; Leiocephalus barahonensis altavelensis Noble and Hassler, 1933; Leiocephalus barahonensis aureus Cochran, 1934; Leiocephalus barahonensis beatanus Noble, 1923; and Leiocephalus barahonensis oxygaster Schmidt, 1967.

Subspecies Taxonomic Dispute

However, both the IUCN and the publication Amphibians and reptiles of Caribbean Islands classify Leiocephalus barahonensis altavelensis as a separate full species, Leiocephalus altavelensis.

Conservation Status of L. altavelensis

This taxon (whether treated as a species or subspecies) is endemic to Alto Velo Island, and it is classified as critically endangered, with a total population size of no more than 500 individuals.