Sierra curlytail lizard

The Sierra curlytail lizard, scientifically known as Leiocephalus onaneyi, is a critically endangered reptile endemic to the Guantánamo Province of Cuba. This species, also referred to as the Guantanamo striped curlytail, belongs to the Leiocephalidae family, commonly known as curly-tailed lizards.

Description and Habitat

This medium-sized lizard can grow up to 77 mm in snout-vent length. Its dorsal appearance is marked by a distinctive chocolate-brown stripe running down the middle of its back, bordered by slightly darker chocolate brown lines. Further extending along its back are seven alternating lines of chocolate brown and light brownish-grey on each side. A notable sexual dimorphism is present in the throat coloration, which is white in males and grey in females; this coloration extends down to a solid white belly.

The Sierra curlytail lizard inhabits a specific xeric environment characterized by limestone karst topography, typically found near the coast. Its preferred vegetation consists of grasses, agaves, and bushes. The species is known to live at elevations between 150 and 200 meters above sea level.

Conservation Concerns

The geographic range of Leiocephalus onaneyi is limited to the vicinity of its type locality, with an estimated extent of less than 100 km². Its habitat quality and extent are severely threatened by ongoing goat grazing and the intentional lighting of fires to convert the land into pasture. These pressures have led to its classification as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, following an assessment in 2016.