Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Mexican alligator lizard (Abronia graminea), recorded as Endangered
Mexican alligator lizard (Abronia graminea). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Mexican alligator lizard

Abronia graminea

The Mexican alligator lizard, also known as the green arboreal alligator lizard, is an endangered species of lizard endemic to the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca highlands of Mexico.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Abronia graminea
Recorded from
Mexico
Taxonomy
Squamata · Anguidae · Abronia

Appearance

It reaches up to about 10.6 cm (4.2 in) in snout–vent length and 16.0 cm (6.3 in) in tail length. An individual that had a snout–vent length of 9.8 cm (3.9 in) weighed 21.2 g (0.75 oz) and another with a snout–vent length of 10.0 cm (3.9 in) weighed 20.7 g (0.73 oz). The adult colour pattern varies significantly from the juvenile colouration.

Range and habitat

The Mexican alligator lizard is a widely distributed species endemic to the highlands of Mexico along the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca mountain range. This range include the states of Puebla, Veracruz, and Oaxaca. The region this species inhabits is located at elevations of 1,350-2,743m above sea level.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Diet

The preferred diet of this species is a variety of insects.

In crisis

The IUCN rates the Mexican alligator lizard as endangered. Decline of the species is mainly the result of habitat fragmentation due to fire, deforestation, and land use change for agriculture. Population fragmentation and destruction of habitat are the main factors contributing to the decline of this species.

Mexican alligator lizard is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Mexican alligator lizard, Wikidata item Q2341144. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Same genus

Photograph of Abronia campbelli (Abronia campbelli), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Abronia campbelli

Abronia campbelli
Photograph of Abronia fuscolabialis (Abronia fuscolabialis), recorded as EndangeredEN

Abronia fuscolabialis

Abronia fuscolabialis
Photograph of Monte Cristo Arboreal Alligator Lizard (Abronia montecristoi), recorded as EndangeredEN

Monte Cristo Arboreal Alligator Lizard

Abronia montecristoi
Photograph of Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vaquita

Phocoena sinus

Quick answers

What is Mexican alligator lizard?
Mexican alligator lizard is a lizard or snake in the family Anguidae — Abronia graminea.
What is the conservation status of Mexican alligator lizard?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Abronia graminea. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Mexican alligator lizard live?
The Mexican alligator lizard is a widely distributed species endemic to the highlands of Mexico along the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca mountain range.
Why is Mexican alligator lizard in crisis?
Population fragmentation and destruction of habitat are the main factors contributing to the decline of this species.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Abronia graminea?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Mexican alligator lizard a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.