About Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825)
Tropidurus hispidus, commonly called Peters's lava lizard or neotropical lava lizard, is a species of lizard in the Tropiduridae family. It is distributed in Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. This species is the largest in the Tropidurus genus, with a maximum total length of 35 cm (14 in) and a snout–vent length of approximately 15 cm (6 in). It feeds mainly on invertebrates including ants, spiders, and scorpions, but may occasionally hunt small vertebrates such as Hemydactylus mabouia. Males of this species are typically larger than females. Males often use head and body movements to intimidate other males that enter their territory, and interactions can escalate into head-to-head fights. The bite force of large adult males can reach approximately 103 N (23 lbf).
