Ameiva (amiva)

[NL., from a native name.] A genus of small, inoffensive lizards, the type of the family Ameivida, order Lacerti lia. They are rather pretty animals, with a long whip-like tail, and peculiarly elongated toes on the hind feet. The tail is covered with a series of scales arranged in rings, the ventral shields are broad and smooth, the teeth are trilobate and compre ed, and the feet are 5-toed. The general color is dark olive speckled with black on the nape of the neck; on the sides are rows or bands of white spots edged with black. There are many species, occurring from Patagonia to California and Pennsylvania. The abundant A. dorsal is of Jamaica is a characteristic example.