The Key tegu (Echinosaura keyi), also known commonly as Key's teiid and in Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. The species is endemic to Ecuador.
Taxonomy
Echinosaura keyi was formerly known as Teuchocercus keyi , and was the type species of the genus Teuchocercus, but the genus Teuchocercus is no longer recognized.
Etymology
The specific name, keyi, is in honor of American physician and amateur herpetologist (1942âÂÂ1999).
Geographic range
The Key tegu is only found in Ecuador with records from Esmeraldas and Pichincha.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of E. keyi is near streams in forest, at altitudes of .
Reproduction
E. keyi is oviparous.
References
Further reading
- (2001). "Lizards of Ecuador: Checklist, Distribution, and Systematic References". Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service (131): 1âÂÂ35. (Teuchocercus keyi, p. 14).
- Torres-Carvajal, Omar; ; ; ; ; ; (2016). "Phylogeny and biogeography of the most diverse clade of South American gymnophthalmid lizards (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae, Cercosaurinae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 99: 63âÂÂ75. (Echinosaura keyi, new combination).
- Torres-Carvajal O, , (2019). "Reptiles of Ecuador: a resource-rich online portal, with dynamic checklists and photographic guides". Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13 (1) [General Section]: 209âÂÂ229 (e178). (Echinosaura keyi, p. 213, Table 1). (in English, with an abstract in Spanish).