Ameiva, commonly called jungle-runner, is a genus of whiptail lizard found in South America and Central America. A lizard basks in the sun until its body temperature reaches 39 or 40°C, and then forages until its body temperature cools to 35°C when it ceases foraging and basks again. It is an insectivore but sometimes will scavenge or eat fruit. This lizard is also known as the Giant Ameiva, green ameiva, South American ground lizard, or Amazon racerunner.
