Celestus warreni
Celestus warreni, commonly known as the Haitian giant galliwasp or the Hispaniolan giant galliwasp, is a species of lizard in the family Diploglossidae. The species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola.
Celestus warreni | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Diploglossidae |
Genus: | Celestus |
Species: | C. warreni |
Binomial name | |
Celestus warreni Schwartz, 1970 | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Etymology
The specific name, warreni, is in honor of Mr. C. Rhea Warren who collected herpetological specimens on Île de la Tortue.[3]
Geographic range
C. warreni is found in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti.[1]
Description
C. warreni weighs 68 grams (2.4 ounces), and it is very quick and slippery and long.
Habitat
The natural habitat of C. warreni is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests underneath leaf litter and underneath forest debris.[1]
Diet
The giant Hispaniolan galliwasp is an opportunistic predator that feed on insects, earthworms, small mammals, and other reptiles.
Conservation status
C. warreni is threatened by habitat loss, invasive species (such as the mongoose), and persecution. The galliwasp is erroneously believed to be venomous and is often killed on sight across the island.[1]
The subspecies Celestus warreni anelpistus is possibly extinct. It is sometimes elevated to a species, Celestus anelpistus.
References
- Landestoy, M., Inchaustegui, S. & Powell, R. 2016. Celestus warreni (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T39260A115172613. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T39260A71739879.en. Downloaded on 27 April 2021.
- Species Celestus warreni at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Warren's Galliwasp Diploglossus warreni ", pp. 279-280).
Further reading
- Schwartz A (1970). "A new species of large Diploglossus (Sauria: Anguidae) from Hispaniola". Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 82: 777–788. (Diploglossus warreni, new species).
- Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Diploglossus warreni, p. 122).