Helodermoides (SciiFii)

The American pinecone lizard (Helodermoides pineaharengula), also known simply as the pinecone lizard (not to be confused with the shingleback lizard, which is also known as the pinecone lizard), is a species of glyptosaurine anguid that originally lived in North America during the Oligocene as an extinct species, Helodermoides tuberculatus, and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction SciiFii and introduced throughout the open woodlands, grasslands, shrubland, scrublands, and deserts across the southern, southwestern, and western United States and Mexico to help boost biodiversity. The American pinecone lizard is the largest living species of glyptosaurines, growing one average to about 70 cm (2.2 feet) long from snout to vent. Like other glyptosaurines, the American pinecone lizard is covered in small scale-like bones called osteoderms. The osteoderms covering its skull are hexagonal, tightly interlocking, raised, and rounded. Like other anguids, the American pinecone lizard is capable of autotomy, in which the lizard has the ability to lose a tail. However, unlike other anguids, the tail of the American pinecone lizard is not able to grow back because the osteoderms forming a thick bony cap preventing growth. The American pinecone lizard will also defend itself against predators with its strong bite and thick armour. The American pinecone lizard is an omnivore that eat snails, insects, carrion, vegetation and flowers. Since they are slow-moving, they tend to eat other slow moving species. This is perhaps why the American pinecone lizard has a stronger preference for plants. They can easily crush through the shells of snails with their strong jaws. As they overlap with human habitation and settlement, they have also been known to eat human food, such as sausage and chicken, as well as fruits such as strawberries, banana and passionfruit. The American pinecone lizards live a very sedentary lifestyle and generally act peacefully toward other individuals. However, these lizards are territorial and can display agonistic behaviour towards conspecific intruders. They have stable home ranges and can differentiate between individuals through chemical cues. Familial neighbours who share home ranges and burrows do not show aggressive behaviour. However, unfamiliar males will be attacked by other males in occasional agonistic interactions. Scale damaged has allowed for the observation that unpaired males are more likely to display agonistic behaviour towards each other. They are temporary males and thus wander many home ranges with male inhabitants. The American pinecone lizard performs almost no parental care, so the observed monogamy is only advantageous premating. The conservation status of the American pinecone lizard is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the American pinecone lizard's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.