Abronia fuscolabialis
| Abronia fuscolabialis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Anguimorpha |
| Family: | Anguidae |
| Genus: | Abronia |
| Species: | A. fuscolabialis |
| Binomial name | |
| Abronia fuscolabialis Tihen, 1944 | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Abronia fuscolabialis, the Mount Zempoaltepec arboreal alligator lizard, is an endangered arboreal alligator lizard endemic to Oaxaca, Mexico.
Distribution
The Mount Zempoaltepec arboreal alligator lizard is a canopy-dwelling lizard[3] endemic to the Northern Sierra mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. Specimens have been collected from cloud forests and pine-oak forests in Sierra Mixe and Sierra Juárez[3] at elevations between 2160 and 2440m above sea level.[3]
Morphology
Juveniles are beige with dark brown or black crossbands. Adult coloration ranges from yellow-green to green, to turquoise. The color of individuals has been noted to change after a couple of months in captivity, suggesting that color is a reflection of environmental conditions.[4]
The Mount Zempoaltepec arboreal alligator lizard is distinguished from other Abronia lizards by the presence of a pale "arrowhead" marking on the dorsal head and by dark markings on the side of the head and neck.[4]
Snout-to-vent lengths of adult specimens have measured between 11−12cm.[5]
Abronia lizards have prehensile tails which can regrow if damaged.[4]
Natural history and ecology
Due to its rarity, little is known on the Mount Zempoaltepec arboreal alligator lizard specifically. It has been observed hiding on the ground, suggesting that it is not exclusively arboreal.[4]
Other members of the genus Arborea are diurnal and give birth to live young.[4]
Description and taxonomy
The Mount Zempoaltepec arboreal alligator lizard was first described by the American herpetologist Joseph Anton Tihen as Gerrhonotus fuscolabialis based on two specimens collected from Mt. Zempoaltepec in Oaxaca.[5] The scientific name was chosen in reference to the darker pattern of scales along the lips and chin which distinguish Abronia fuscolabialis from its congeners; fuscolabialis comes from the Latin fuscus, meaning dark, and labialis, pertaining to the lips.[6] The holotype is held at the American Museum of Natural History.[7]
The previously-described sympatric taxon Abronia kalaina is now considered to be synonymous with A. fuscolabialis.[4]
Threats and conservation
The Mount Zempoaltepec arboreal alligator lizard is considered to be endangered by the IUCN as the species' known range consists of less than 5,000km2.[8] The species has been observed in areas of forest harvested for timber production.[3] As of 2018 the species was not present in any nationally protected conservation areas.[9]
Gallery
An adult Mount Zempoaltepec arboreal alligator lizard resting over a bromeliad in La Aplanada
An adult Mount Zempoaltepec arboreal alligator lizard in Arroyo Cuache
References
- ↑ Campbell, J.A. (2007). "Abronia fuscolabialis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007. IUCN: e.T63677A12706446. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63677A12706446.en. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ↑ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Archived from the original on 2007-02-03. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- 1 2 3 4 Ortega-Álvarez, Rubén; Cano, Leonel Valdez; Wilchest, Víctor; Benítez, Esteban Berrones; Mena, Israel Medina; Solano-Zavaleta, Israel (2021-11-30). "Abronia fuscolabialis (ANGUIDAE; GERRHONOTINAE)". Revista Latinoamericana de Herpetología. 4 (2): 219–223. doi:10.22201/fc.25942158e.2021.02.307. ISSN 2594-2158.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Campbell, Jonathan A.; Frost, Darrel R. (September 3, 1993). "Anguid lizards of the genus Abronia : revisionary notes, descriptions of four new species, a phylogenetic analysis, and key". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 216. ISSN 0003-0090.
- 1 2 Tihen, J. A. (1944). "A New Gerrhonotus from Oaxaca". Copeia. 1944 (2): 112–115. doi:10.2307/1438765. ISSN 0045-8511.
- ↑ Uetz, Peter; Hallermann, Jakob. "Abronia fuscolabialis". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- ↑ "Gerrhonotus fuscolabialis Tihen, 1944". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
- ↑ Campbell, J.A. (2007). "Abronia fuscolabialis, Mount Zempoaltepec Alligator Lizard" (PDF). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species e.T63677A12706446. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63677A12706446.en. ISSN 2307-8235.
- ↑ SEMARNAT (2018). "Programa de Acción para la Conservación de las Especies Abronia (Abronia spp) en México" (PDF) (in Spanish) ((Año de edición 2018) ed.). SEMARNAT/CONANP, México.