Published October 12, 2023. Updated January 15, 2024. Open access. | Gallery ❯ |
Forest Whiptail (Kentropyx pelviceps)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Sauria | Teiidae | Kentropyx pelviceps
English common name: Forest Whiptail.
Spanish common name: Lagartija látigo selvática.
Recognition: ♂♂ 37.9 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=13.0 cm. ♀♀ 35.7 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=12.0 cm..1,2 The Forest Whiptail (Kentropyx pelviceps) differs from other medium-sized, striped diurnal and terrestrial lizards in the Ecuadorian Amazon by having granular dorsal scales, strongly keeled ventral scales arranged in 14–16 rows, and large plate-like scales on the head.1–5 This species is easily recognizable due to its broad vertebral stripe that transitions from green to copper, with undulating margins that widen posteriorly (Fig. 1).1,5,6 Juveniles have a pair of blackish canthal–dorsolateral stripes, but the rest of the head is entirely green.1,5 The most similar whiptails that may be found living alongside K. pelviceps in the Ecuadorian Amazon are K. altamazonica, which has a vertebral stripe with straight margins, and Ameiva ameiva, which has smooth ventral scales and lacks greenish stripes.5
Figure 1: Individuals of Kentropyx pelviceps from Ecuador: Yasuní Scientific Station, Orellana province (); Aguas Negras Lodge, Sucumbíos province (); Curaray Medio, Pastaza province (); Laguna Jatuncocha, Orellana province (). j=juvenile.
Natural history: Kentropyx pelviceps is a locally abundant lizard inhabiting various rainforest environments, including várzea (=whitewater-flooded forests), igapó (=blackwater-flooded forests), and terra-firme.3 The species occurs in old-growth rainforests,3 as well as in clearings,7 plantations,6,8 rural gardens, and even inside houses.9 It is not associated with water bodies and prefers less open habitats than its congener K. altamazonica.3,4 Forest Whiptails require extended periods of direct sunlight to become active, typically being out during sunny days between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm when temperatures range between 28 and 40.3°C.2–10 On cloudy days, they remain concealed.5,7 At night, Forest Whiptails seek shelter in holes, leaf-litter, beneath logs, or roost on twigs and leaves 1–1.6 m above the ground.6,9 They are primarily terrestrial but also exhibit semi-arboreal behavior, climbing palm fronds and tree trunks up to 3.5 meters above the ground.3–7 The majority of their active time is spent basking on filtered sunlight (67.3%) or frantically foraging (34.3%), essentially never stopping as they search for food.2,5 Their diet includes mostly arthropods (particularly grasshoppers, spiders, and roaches),2–6 but also frogs and lizards, such as Anolis trachyderma.3,6 Forest Whiptails rely mostly on their wariness and sprint speed as defense mechanisms,10 but they may bite or readily shed the tail if captured. There are documented instances of predation on individuals of this species by snakes (Oxyrhopus petolarius,6 Micrurus obscurus,4 and Bothrops atrox4). Reproduction in K. pelviceps appears to occur throughout the year, with females laying clutches of 3–8 eggs.3,10
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..11 Kentropyx pelviceps is listed in this category given its wide distribution, presence in major protected areas, lack of widespread threats, and tolerance to human-modified environments.11 In Brazil, it is estimated that 94% of the species’ occurrence area is still forested12; in Ecuador, this figure is closer to 88%.13
Distribution: Kentropyx pelviceps is native to an estimated area of 1,169,430.95 km2 throughout the Amazonian lowlands and adjacent Andean foothills of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.12
Figure 2: Distribution of Kentropyx pelviceps in Ecuador. The star corresponds to the type locality: Napo River. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The generic name Kentropyx, which is derived from the Greek words kentron (=spur) and pyxis (=box),14 probably refers to the preanal spurs in species of this genus.15 The specific epithet pelviceps, derived from the Latin pelvis (=a basin) and caput (=head), refers to the concave condition of the frontoparietal region, a characteristic found most prominently in males.1
See it in the wild: Forest Whiptails are virtually guaranteed sightings within their distribution range in Ecuador, especially in Yasuní National Park and Cuyabeno Reserve. These jittery reptiles can be readily observed running on the forest floor in areas of filtered sunlight during warm, sunny days.
Author: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.
Photographers: Jose VieiraaAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,bAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador. and Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.
How to cite? Arteaga A (2024) Forest Whiptail (Kentropyx pelviceps). 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/SCKL1671
Literature cited:
- Gallagher DS, Dixon JR (1992) Taxonomic revision of the South American lizard genus Kentropyx Spix (Sauria: Teiidae). Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino 10: 125–171.
- Vitt LJ, Zani PA, Caldwell JP, Carrillo EO (1995) Ecology of the lizard Kentropyx pelviceps (Sauria: Teiidae) in lowland rain forest of Ecuador. Canadian Journal of Zoology 73: 691–703. DOI: 10.1139/z95-081
- Avila-Pires TCS (1995) Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata). Zoologische Verhandelingen 299: 1–706.
- Dixon JR, Soini P (1986) The reptiles of the upper Amazon Basin, Iquitos region, Peru. Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, 154 pp.
- Duellman WE (2005) Cusco amazónico: the lives of amphibians and reptiles in an Amazonian rainforest. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 433 pp.
- Duellman WE (1978) The biology of an equatorial herpetofauna in Amazonian Ecuador. Publications of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas 65: 1–352.
- Fitch HS (1968) Temperature and behavior of some equatorial lizards. Herpetologica 24: 35–38.
- Beirne C, Burdekin O, Whitworth A (2013) Herpetofaunal responses to anthropogenic habitat change within a small forest reserve in eastern Ecuador. The Herpetological Journal 23: 209–219.
- Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
- Vitt LJ, De la Torre S (1996) A research guide to the lizards of Cuyabeno. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, 165 pp.
- Calderón M, Perez P, Avila-Pires TCS, Aparicio J, Moravec J (2019) Kentropyx pelviceps. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T44579732A44579741.en
- Ribeiro-Júnior MA, Amaral S (2016) Diversity, distribution, and conservation of lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) in the Brazilian Amazonia. Neotropical Biodiversity 2: 195–421. DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2016.1236769
- MAE (2012) Línea base de deforestación del Ecuador continental. Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador, Quito, 30 pp.
- Brown RW (1956) Composition of scientific words. Smithsonian Books, Washington D.C., 882 pp.
- Uetz P, Freed P, Hošek J (2021) The reptile database. Available from: www.reptile-database.org
Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Kentropyx pelviceps in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.
| Country | Province | Locality | Source |
| Colombia | Caquetá | Mecaya | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Colombia | Cauca | Finca San Isidro | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Nariño | Vereda La Libertad | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Achapos | Geopark Colombia & SGS Colombia 2022 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Kanakas | Geopark Colombia et al. 2022 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Puerto Asís, 5 km NW of | Calderon et al. 2023 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Reserva Natural La Isla Escondida | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Río Putumayo | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | San Antonio del Guamués, 30 mi S of | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Santa Rosa de los Cofanes | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Santa Rosa de Sucumbíos | Avila-Pires 1995 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Sinaí II | Cahueño & Barbosa 2022 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Teteya | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Vereda La Unión | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Achuar territory | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Arapicos | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Cusuime | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | La Virgen | Carvajal-Campos & Torres-Carvajal 2021 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Macuma | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Miazal | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Misión Bomboiza | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Sawastian | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Turula | Burt & Burt 1931 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Valle del Río Santiago | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Valle del Río Zamora | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Villa Ashuara | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Archidona | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Campamento Codo bajo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Finca Fischer | TCWC 65018; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Napo | Gareno Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Hidroeléctrica Coca Codo Sinclair | COCASINCLAIR 2013 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Huaorani Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Jatun Sacha Biological Station | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Konimpare, 5 km E of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Puerto Napo | UIMNH 55780; collection database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Río Cotopino | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Tena | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Yachana Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Yachana Reserve | Beirne et al. 2013 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Apaika | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Control MAE Río Yasuní | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Orellana | El Coca | MCZ 164496; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Laguna Jatuncocha | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Loreto | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Río Aguarico | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Río Bigal | García et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Río Nashiño | Carvajal-Campos & Torres-Carvajal 2021 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Río Pucuno | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | San José de Payamino | Maynard et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | San José de Sumaco | Burt & Burt 1931 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Shiripuno Lodge | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Tiputini Biodiversity Station | Cisneros-Heredia 2003 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Yarentaro | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Yarina Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Yasuni Scientific Station | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Zamona | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Apuya | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Arajuno | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Balsaura | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Cabañas Piatúa | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Cabeceras del Bobonaza | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Canelos | Burt & Burt 1931 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Centro Achuar Wayusentsa | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Centro Ecológico Zanja Arajuno | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Comunidad Simón Bolívar | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Curaray Medio | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Destacamento Militar Shiona | Avila-Pires 1995 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Heimatlos | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Juyuintza | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Kapawi Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Kurintza | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Lorocachi | Carvajal-Campos & Torres-Carvajal 2021 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Mirador Indichuris | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Montalvo | Avila-Pires 1995 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Pindoyacu | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Puyo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Bobonaza | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Bufeo | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Capahuari | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Conambo | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Copataza | Avila-Pires 1995 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Lliquino | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Pindo | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Villano | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Sarayacu | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Shell | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Sumak Kawsay In Situ | Bentley et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Teresa Mama | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Tigüino | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Aguas Negras Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Campo Platanillo | Envirotec 2015 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Cofán Bermejo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Comunidad Secoya | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Comunidad Zábalo | Cevallos Bustos 2010 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Dureno | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Estación PUCE Cuyabeno | Vitt & Zani 1996 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Garzacocha | Yánez-Muñoz & Venegas 2008 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | La Selva Lodge | Sunbird Tours |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Lago Agrio | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Limoncocha Biological Reserve | UIMNH 54374; collection database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Lumbaqui, 5 km E of | Dueñas and Báez 2021 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Napo Wildlife Center | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | NWC clay lick | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Playas del Cuyabeno | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Puerto Libre | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Río Güeppi | Yanez-Muñoz et al. 2017 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Sacha Lodge | Photo by Charlie Vogt |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | San Roque | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Sani Lodge | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Santa Cecilia | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Tarapoa | MCZ 163561; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | El Pangui | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Perma Tree | Online multimedia |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Proyecto Mirador | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Valle del Quimi | Betancourt et al. 2018 |
| Peru | Amazonas | Carretera Corral Quemado–Nazareth | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Peru | Loreto | Aguas Negras | Yánez-Muñoz & Venegas 2008 |
| Peru | Loreto | Centro Unión | Gallagher & Dixon 1992 |
| Peru | Loreto | Cerro de Kampankis | Catenazzi & Venegas 2016 |
| Peru | Loreto | Mishana | Harvey et al. 2012 |
| Peru | Loreto | Moropon | Harvey et al. 2012 |
| Peru | Loreto | Redondococha | Yánez-Muñoz & Venegas 2008 |