The spectacular blue lizard (Cnemidophorus arubensis) of Aruba
Antonio Silveira Ribeiro dos Santos
Environment Programme: The Last Noah’s Ark
www.aultimaarcadenoe.com.br
Situated in the Caribbean sea about 24 km of the Venezuela coast, Aruba has 182 km2, being 31,36 km of length for 9,6km of width, having as its higher point the Jamanota Mountain with 185 m/al (or 617 feet). Its capital is Oranjestad, a likeable city that remembers Holland very, what it is not for less, therefore Aruba is part of the dutch territory, although the certain reached autonomy has few decades.
Although Aruba to be one of the looked health-resorts more of world and one of the best destinations for diving, with its enormous hoteleira net, still possesss natural areas mainly represented for the National Park Arikok and the Bubali Bird Sanctuary, and some flooded natural. He is interesting to observe that in the natural areas and same in the modified areas we find the Divi-divi (Caesalpinia coriaria), whose distribution goes Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and north of the South America, but that they are very famous and of certain form protected in the island.
We have visited the island for some times, and mainly between 11 and 21 of November of 2010 and 7 the 23 of June of 2011 we had the chance to make some comments of its fauna, mainly of its birds. Although the important of its avifauna, this famous island counts on 3 species of anurous amphibians, 12 species of lizard and two of ofídios, as consulted literature (De Amfibieën em Reptilielen van Aruba, Curaçao em Bonaire, Gerard van Buurt,2001).
But, without a doubt, an animal that if detaches soon is the famous blue lizard of Aruba (Cnemidophorus arubensis), known local for Cododo and in English for whiptail Aruba. The species is endemic of the island, it becomes what it more important. In fact, this lizard is beautiful therefore it all has blue spots clear for the body, that is of blue a dark one, what it of the one impressive luminosity when to the sun. The female and the young males are “discreter” in coloration terms, with the body clear medium brown color and spots with little blue. Although endemic it is a very common animal in Aruba, also easily it is seen also in the gardens of the hotels, as of Palm Beach, for luck of the apreciadores of the nature, therefore it is very pleasant to see this animal, I always take care of and agitated.
For some times we had the chance to observe, to photograph and to film this spectacular animal, registering it in our archives, what we share with this small note with these two photos.
Arquivo: Antonio Silveira
Publication on line- PDF – aultimaarcadenoe.wordpress.com – july 2011
copyrights: Antonio Silveira Ribeiro dos Santos
