The Mexican Alligator Lizard is a species of lizard that is native to the highlands of Mexico. This endangered species is also known as the Green Arboreal Alligator Lizard.
This lizard is restricted to the humid forests of the Mexican highlands. It is listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
This is mainly due to habitat loss from fires and reforestation but illegal removal of the species for the pet trade is also having a negative effect on their population.
Mexican Alligator Lizard Taxonomy
The family of lizard that the Mexican Alligator Lizard belongs to is called Anguidae. This is a large and diverse family that is native to the Northern Hemisphere.
The types of lizards in this family include the Slowworms, Galliwasps, Glass Lizards and Alligator Lizards among a number of other species.
Some of the other species in this family include the Texas Alligator Lizard and the Slender Glass Lizard.
There are 3 different genera of Alligator Lizard. These are called Gerrhonotus, Abronia and Elgaria. It is the Abronia genus that the Mexican Alligator Lizard belongs to.
This is a genus of arboreal Alligator Lizards that are native to Mexico and parts of Northern Central America in countries such as Guatemala and Belize.
There are almost 40 different species of arboreal Alligator Lizards in this genus most of which contain bright green colors and intriguing patterning.
A lot of the species in this genus are endangered. This is largely due to the fact that they live in a very small ecosystem. Deforestation and wildfires can be detrimental to such species.
The Mexican Alligator itself has the scientific name Abronia graminea. It was first identified in 1864 and there are no recognised sub-species.
Mexican Alligator Lizard Description
The Mexican Alligator Lizard is a stunning species of lizard that has a number of striking physical features. The have a very distinctive head and defined scales which has many similarities to how a dragon is portrayed.
These lizards are around 6 inches in length and weigh approximately 21g. This makes them a fairly small species of lizard. The color and patterning changes greatly between juveniles and adults.
A juvenile Mexican Alligator Lizard is typically light brown in color with black crossbands on the body and tail. Their belly is typically off-yellow in color.
However, an adult of this species has much more vibrant coloration. They are typically bright emerald green in color with black markings between the scales.
Color variations are common in females of this species and they can often be found with different shades of yellow or orange as the base color.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Mexican Alligator Lizard is native to parts of the Mexican highland along a stretch of the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountain range.
Their distribution is limited to the Southern regions of this mountain range. They can be found in and around the states of Veracruz and Pueblo.
They are an arboreal species that live high up in the canopy above the forest floor. They are typically found at elevations of between 1350m and 2750m.
Their preferred habitat consists of humid temperate forests such as cloud forests, montane forests and pine-oak hardwood forests.
They often live in tropical epiphytes such as bromeliads, which grow on the side of trees. These epiphytes offer the lizards security, shelter and moisture.
Mexican Alligator Lizard Reproduction
The Mexican Alligator Lizard is viviparous, meaning that they give birth to live young as opposed to laying eggs. While most reptiles lay eggs, many others give live birth such as the Brazilian Rainbow Boa and Panther Chameleon.
These lizards only breed once a year and give birth to a litter than can vary in size from around 6-12 babies. The gestation period ranges from 6-8 months.
