Osteologia do dermatocrânio e da mandíbula de Iguana iguana iguana (Squamata: Iguanidae)

Abstract

The skull of animals provides anatomical data that assist in understanding their evolutionary characteristics. With the aim of supporting the morphological knowledge of reptiles; we provide a detailed description of the dermatocranium and lower jaw of Iguana iguana iguana based on the analysis of three dried adult skeletons. The skull of this species has basal characteristics among the triangular shape lizards, small pre-orbital region and a large snout. Bone structures are well delineated with fusion of some bones in the caudal part and on the floor. Postfrontral, supratemporal, jugal and septomaxilla bones then present, the quadratejugal absent, frontal and parietal are unpaired and the pineal foramen is present in the frontal bone. In the lower jaw the splenial is reduced and the prearticular fused to articular. The skull morphology of I. iguana iguana shows some particularities related to lifestyle habits, for example the herbivory. The general pattern is similar to other lizards, with typical features of Iguanidae and other unique characteristics to the species.