Published September 28, 2023. Updated January 15, 2024. Open access. | Gallery ❯ |
Seven-lined Whiptail (Holcosus septemlineatus)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Sauria | Teiidae | Holcosus septemlineatus
English common name: Seven-lined Whiptail.
Spanish common name: Lagartija de siete líneas.
Recognition: ♂♂ 43.2 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=13.5 cm..1,2 Whiptails differ from other striped diurnal lizards by having small granular dorsal scales, large squarish ventral scales, and large plate-like scales on the head.3,4 Holcosus septemlineatus can be differentiated from the co-occurring whiptails Medopheos edracanthus and Dicrodon guttulatum by having the frontal plate replaced by smaller scales.1,3 In its juvenile stage, this lizard presents a dark reddish brown dorsum adorned with five vibrant yellow longitudinal lines, accompanied by a cyan tail. As it matures, the dorsum gradually assumes a brown hue, the vivid lines fade, and the tail undergoes a transition from cyan to brown (Fig. 1). The lizard most akin to it in terms of size and coloration is H. bridgesii, a saurian distinguishable by lacking a set of plate-like scales on its upper arm.3
Figure 1: Individuals of Holcosus septemlineatus from Ecuador: Buenaventura Biological Reserve, El Oro province (); Cerro de Hayas, Guayas province (); Jorupe Reserve, Loja province (). j=juvenile.
Natural history: Holcosus septemlineatus is a diurnal and terrestrial lizard that occurs in high densities in rainforests and seasonally dry forests as well as in human-modified habitats such as crops and rural gardens.5,6 The species prefers clearings, tree fall areas, and forest edges rather than closed canopy situations.2,5,6 Seven-lined Whiptails are active only during hot, sunny hours.2,5 They forage frantically, essentially never stopping as they search for food at ground level, never too far from vegetation cover.2 As soon as sunlight wanes, they retreat into ground holes or under leaf-litter, logs, or in man-made structures such as pipes.2 Their diet is insectivorous: roaches7 and grasshoppers8 have been documented as prey items. Individuals of H. septemlineatus are notably skittish, maintaining a vigilant watch for potential predators. Their primary defense mechanisms are alertness and rapid sprinting, though they may resort to biting or readily shedding their tails if captured.2 There are documented instances of predation on individuals of this species by snakes (Oxybelis transandinus9 and Porthidium arcosae10) and raptors.11
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..12 Holcosus septemlineatus is listed in this category primarily on the basis of the species’ wide distribution, high population densities, and adaptability to human-modified environments.12 Observations in Ecuador5,6 indicate a growing abundance of H. septemlineatus as a response to the conversion of dense-canopy habitats into sparsely forested semi-open environments.
Distribution: Holcosus septemlineatus is native to the Tumbesian lowlands and adjacent foothills of the Andes in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru (Fig. 2).
Figure 2: Distribution of Holcosus septemlineatus in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The generic name Holcosus is probably derived from the Greek word holkos (a kind of grain). It may refer to the many grain-like keeled scales on the head of lizards of this genus. The specific epithet septemlineatus comes from the Latin words septem (=seven), linea (=line), and the suffix -atus (=provided with).13 It refers to the dorsal pattern.
See it in the wild: Seven-lined Whiptails are virtually guaranteed sightings within their distribution range in Ecuador, especially forest-edge situations in Machalilla National Park, Buenaventura Biological Reserve, and Cerro de Hayas Protected Forest. These jittery reptiles can be readily observed running on the forest floor along forest borders during warm, sunny days.
Author: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.
Photographer: Jose VieirabAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,cAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.
How to cite? Arteaga A (2024) Seven-lined Whiptail (Holcosus septemlineatus). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/FNRE8115
Literature cited:
- Harvey MB, Ugueto GN, Gutberlet Jr RL (2012) Review of teiid morphology with a revised taxonomy and phylogeny of the Teiidae (Lepidosauria: Squamata). Zootaxa 3459: 1–156. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3459.1.1
- Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
- Peters JA (1964) The lizard genus Ameiva in Ecuador. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 63: 113–127.
- Peters JA, Donoso-Barros R (1970) Catalogue of the Neotropical Squamata: part II, lizards and amphisbaenians. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, Washington, D.C., 293 pp.
- Cruz García FK (2017) Diversidad y preferencia de microhábitats de la herpetofauna del Bosque Protector Pedro Franco Dávila (Jauneche) y del Área Provincial Natural de Recreación Cerro de Hayas (Naranjal). BSc thesis, Universidad de Guayaquil, 94 pp.
- Cuadrado Saldarriaga SS (2020) Estructura de la comunidad de herpetofauna diurna en agroecosistemas del Chocó ecuatoriano. BSc thesis, Universidad de Guayaquil, 56 pp.
- Photo by Victor Bustamante.
- Photo by Andrés Montes.
- Photo by Roger Valmon.
- Valencia JH, Vaca-Guerrero GV, Garzón K (2011) Natural history, potential distribution and conservation status of the Manabi Hognose Pitviper Porthidium arcosae (Schätti & Kramer, 1993), in Ecuador. Herpetozoa 23: 31–43.
- Photo by Miguel Aporta.
- Cisneros-Heredia DF, Bolívar W, Velasco J (2017) Holcosus septemlineatus. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T44579609A44579616.en
- Brown RW (1956) Composition of scientific words. Smithsonian Books, Washington D.C., 882 pp.
Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Holcosus septemlineatus in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.
| Country | Province | Locality | Source |
| Ecuador | Azuay | La Maravilla | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Azuay | Ponce Enríquez | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Azuay | Proyecto Minas San Francisco | Photo by Fausto Siavichay |
| Ecuador | Azuay | Puente de Chaucha | Ernesto Arbeláez, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Azuay | Río Jubones, campamento Chilcaplaya | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Bolívar | Balzapamba | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Bolívar | Caluma | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Bolívar | Facundo Vela | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Bolívar | Finca Hernández | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Bolívar | San Francisco | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Bolívar | San Jose del Tambo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Cañar | Cochancay | MVZ 77480; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Cañar | Hidroeléctrica Ocaña | MZUA.Re.0229 |
| Ecuador | Cañar | Manta Real | Rodríguez-Guerra & Andrango 2020 |
| Ecuador | Chimborazo | Chilicoy | Peters 1964 |
| Ecuador | Chimborazo | Cumandá | Photo by Eduardo Zavala |
| Ecuador | Chimborazo | Valle de Alausí | USNM 33860; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Bosque Privado El Jardín de los Sueños | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Hacienda San Gregorio | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Pilaló, 19 km W of | KU 152698; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Pucayacu | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Recinto La Florida | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Vía Quinsaloma–Moraspungo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Balneario Chaguana | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Bosque Petrificado de Puyango | Acosta 2014 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Buenaventura Biological Reserve | Yánez-Muñoz et al 2004 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Cascadas de Manuel | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Hualtaco | USNM 193265; VertNet |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Humedal La Tembladera | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Lote Tituana | This work |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Machala, 7 km SSE of | Peters 1964 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Marcabelí | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Ñalacapac | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Pasaje | Burt & Burt 1931 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Pasaje, 32.9 km E of | KU 152688; VertNet |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Playas de Daucay | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Portovelo | Burt & Burt 1931 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Quebrada Pájaro | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Remolinos | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Represa Tahuín | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Río Jubones | Burt & Burt 1931 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Salatí | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | El Oro | San Gregorio | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | San Roque | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Santa Rosa | Burt & Burt 1931 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Zaruma | USNM 98921; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Hacienda de Germán Cortez | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Hacienda Equinox | Harvey et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Santa Marta | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco | Salvatierra et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Bucay | Peters 1964 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Cabeceras del Río Congo | Peters 1964 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Casas Viejas | Salvatierra et al. 2010 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Cerro de Hayas | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Cerro El Mango | Photo by Keyko Cruz |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Dos Bocas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Flandes | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | General Antonio Elizalde | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Guayaquil | Boulenger 1885 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Isla Santay | Cruz-García et al. 2023 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | José Real | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Milagro | Peters 1964 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Naranjal | Photo by Eduardo Toral |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Represa Daule-Peripa | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Río Pescado | Burt & Burt 1931 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | San Rafael | USNM 60522; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Sendero Aulladores | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Victoria | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Loja | Crano | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Loja | El Salado | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Loja | Guayquichuma | Rodríguez-Guerra & Andrango 2020 |
| Ecuador | Loja | Jorupe Reserve | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Loja | Las Pailitas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Loja | Mataderos | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Loja | Y de Balsones | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Babahoyo, 33 km N of | KU 152735; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Bosque Protector Pedro Franco Dávila | Cruz & Sánchez 2016 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Centro Científico Río Palenque | KU 145993; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Hacienda El Triunfo | USNM 222796; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Hotel Palmar del Sol | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Pueblo Viejo | USNM 337772; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Puerto de Ilá | USNM 193257; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Quevedo | Peters 1964 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Reserva Forestal Cerro Samama | Yánez-Muñoz et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | San Francisco | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Vinces | Harvey et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Bosque Húmedo La Josefina | Brennan 2010 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Bosque Seco Lalo Loor | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | El Aromo | Rodríguez-Guerra & Andrango 2020 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | El Carmen | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | El Carmen, 33.1 km W of | KU 152742; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Flavio Alfaro, 9.1 km E of | KU 152744; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Hacienda La Mariela | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Isla de la Plata | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Jipijapa, 22 km S of | Harvey et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Los Frailes | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Machalilla | Almendariz & Carr 2007 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Pacoche Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Pajan | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Rancho Emy | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Reserva Jama Coaque | Lynch et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Río Muchacho Organic Farm | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Salango | Brennan 2010 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | San Mateo | Harvey et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | San Pedro de Suma | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | San Vicente | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Santa Rosa, 5 km W of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Sendero Bola de Oro | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Vía Pedernales–Cojimíes | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | La Unión del Toachi | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Tanti | Boulenger 1885 |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Valle Hermoso | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Dos Mangas | Salvatierra et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Reserva Ecológica Loma Alta | Salvatierra et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Reserva Las Balsas | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Salanguillo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Bosque Protector La Perla | Photo by Plácido Palacios |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Consultores Creativos | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Finca La Floreana | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Hacienda Dyott | USNM 152402; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Hacienda Lelia | Peters 1964 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Hacienda Santa Cecilia | Rodríguez-Guerra & Andrango 2020 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Hacienda Tinalandia | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Palmar del Bimbe, 6 km W of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Río Baba, 19 km S of Santo Domingo | UIMNH 91031; collection database |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Río Taguaza | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Santo Domingo de los Colorados | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Santo Domingo, 10 km S and 4 km E of | KU 145996; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Santo Domingo, environs of | Peters 1964 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Zoológico Isla del Tapir | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Tumbes | Cabo Inga | Tello 1998 |
| Peru | Tumbes | Cerros de Amotape | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Tumbes | El Caucho | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Tumbes | Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape | Harvey et al. 2012 |
| Peru | Tumbes | Quebrada Faical | LSUMZ 39400; VertNet |
| Peru | Tumbes | Río Puyango | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Tumbes | Tumbes | iNaturalist; photo examined |