The Jamaican ground lizard is as its name suggest a ground dwelling lizard and are a distinct looking lizard in the Jamaican context. They are patterned with a variety of shades and have strong legs and sharp claws enable them to scale certain surfaces but are not very good climbers, they spend their entire life cycle on and in the ground. Instead of up in trees, these lizards seek refuge down in burrows which offers them shelter and protection. They are particularly active above ground during the mid-day period when the sun is most radiant. During this time, they prey on small insects by foraging and scratching away loose debris and top soil.
Phylum: Chordate
Class: Reptilia
Ground lizards are endangered in Jamaica with the primary reason being habitat loss. Ground lizards inhabit the flat plains of the island which are exactly the areas that are most attractive for agriculture, real estate and other forms of industrial development. This puts them in the path of urban expansion. Without conservation efforts the extinction of such a species is not a stretch to imagine.
