Tropidurus

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The reptile genus Tropidurus includes several species of ground lizard. There are at least 28 described species, including seven which are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. These seven species are collectively known as lava lizards, although these commonly are placed in the genus Microlophus instead. The distribution of these lizards and their variations in shape, colour and behaviour show the phenomenon of adaptive radiation so typical of the inhabitants of this archipelago. One species occurs on all the central and western islands, which were perhaps connected during periods of lower sea levels, while one species each occurs on six other more peripheral islands.