Tropidurus catalanensis
—
no known English name
This species was elevated from a subspecies of Tropidurus torquatus in 2013. Some researchers do not accept its newfound species status, and still consider it a subspecies.
These lizards were common around Iguaçu National Park. The first one I saw was the handsome tree-hugging adult pictured above. Most of the others I saw were on rocks, which befits their "Lava Lizard" name. The second photo here is a juvenile on a mossy forest rock. The third photo shows one of several lizards that were hanging out on partly-submerged boulders with crashing waterfalls only a few yards away.
Online references:
- Tropidurus catalanensis account on The Reptile Database
- Tobias Saraiva Kunz & Márcio Borges-Martins, 2013. . A new microendemic species of Tropidurus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) from southern Brazil and revalidation of Tropidurus catalanensis Gudynas & Skuk, 1983