Iguana_11.2_text.ps IGUANA • VOLUME 11, NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2004 97CYCLURA RICORDII Nine species of Hispaniolan Curly-tailed Lizards (Genus Leiocephalus) are currently recognized. Of these, L. semilin- eatus is the smallest, with a maximum known snout-vent length of 53 mm. In addition to its small size, this species is distinguished by the light-bordered, dark brown lateral stripes that begin as a mask and extend onto the body before fading near the hindlimbs. These fading lateral stripes are responsible for the species’ scien- tific name. The species is known from the Llanos de Azua and also from the Valle de Neiba of the Dominican Republic through the Cul- de-Sac plain of Haiti. The latter area is largely below sea level and is a remnant of the marine channel that once separated the North and South paleoislands that joined to form Hispaniola. An appar- ent hiatus in the range separates those two areas. These little lizards are found in extremely dry habitats and may be among the most drought-tolerant of Hispaniolan lizards. They frequently occur in sympatry with Ameiva lineolata, a very small member of its genus and equally xerophilic (from the Greek meaning “dry-loving”). Although both species feed primarily on small arthropods, they apparently avoid most competition with one another by employing different foraging strategies. Leiocephalus semilineatus, like all of its congeners, is a sit-and-wait forager. Using an elevated perch on a rock or log, these lizards respond to movement by ambushing their prey. In contrast, Ameiva lineolata, is an active forager, constantly on the move and rooting in surface litter, while searching for anything edible. Although their diets overlap, a large proportion of that taken by L. semilineatus is composed of insects, such as ants and beetles, that move and attract the attention of lizards, whereas that of A. lineolata includes many prey items, such as pupae and larvae, that rest immobile under surface debris and would escape the notice of a sit-and-wait forager. Like other Curlytails, L. semilineatus coils its tail. Unlike some members of the genus, however, the tail is never curled ver- tically over the lizard’s body. The reasons for this behavior are unknown, although luring insect prey, communication, and con- fusing predators have been mentioned as possibilities. References Nelson, S.E., B.L. Banbury, R.A. Sosa, and R. Powell. 2001. Natural history of Leiocephalus semilineatus in association with sympatric Leiocephalus schreibersii and Ameiva lineolata. Contemporary Herpetology 2001(1): 1–6 + 4 figs. + 2 tables (http://www.cnah.org/ ch/ch/2001/1/index.htm). Nelson, S.E. and R. Powell. 2002. Leiocephalus semilineatus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (751): 1–2. Powell, R. 2002. Species Profile: Leiocephalus personatus. Iguana Times 9: 80. S P E C I E S P R O F I L E Leiocephalus semilineatus Robert Powell Avila University, Kansas City, Missouri An adult male Leiocephalus semilineatus from near Hatillo, Azua Province, Dominican Republic. Photograph by Robert Powell. President Mejia has been a strong sup- porter of the development of National Parks for tourism or mining, and has issued sev- eral decrees authorizing private companies to begin development. The only obstacle, however, has been that, at the onset of this administration, Mejia had signed Environmental Law 64-00, which estab- lished guidelines for the conservation of nat- ural resources. The new bill that is moving ahead in Congress would resolve this impasse and enable unchecked development of the new areas by companies chosen by the Mejia government. Dominican Legislature Passes the Revised Protected Areas Law 13 May 2004 — Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Today, the Dominican Congress approved the Protected Areas Law with significant changes that drastically reduce and render unsustain- able the Dominican System of Protected Areas The two areas that have suffered the most are Parque Nacional Jaragua and Parque Nacional del Este. The struggle by Dominican and international environmen- talists continues, but is becoming more and more difficult. The bill will now pass to the President for approval — but he has stated publicly on several occasions that he favors it.