MExican arboreal alligator lizard
Conservation Messaging Opportunities
Physical features
Granular scales
Coloration is variable from green to brownish with a underbody that is lighter and creamy in color
Arboreal behavior normally
Males up to 30 cm, females up to 26 cm
Range and Habitat
Range – Mexico, pine/oak and cloud (mesophylic) forests in Veracruz, Puebla, and Oaxaca
Habitat – cloud and pine/oak forests with high humidity
Not common in their native ranges and are limited to small geographic areas
Live in high trees rarely descending to the ground
Diet: Carnivore
Wild – Insects; also reportedly eats smaller species of Lizards
Zoo – Insects
Lifespan
Wild – unknown but likely up to 15 years
Zoo – 15 years
Reproduction
Arboreal alligator lizards give birth to live young (10-13 offspring, 6 month gestation).
Single litter each year
Conservation: Endangered
The biggest threat to arboreal alligator lizards is habitat destruction. An additional threat is the pet trade.
The arboreal alligator lizard lives in two protected areas, el Cañon Rio Blanco and Pico de Orizaba National Park.
Captive breeding projects
Interpretive Information
One of 26 species of Abronia
Uncommon and extremely rare in natural habitats
References
Breeders’ expo Europe. Accessed at http://www.breeders-expo.de/species/Anguidae/Abronia-graminea.html
Flores-Villela, O. & Santos-Barrera, G. 2007. Abronia graminea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Version 2014.2. Accessed at www.iucnredlist.org.
Jason Wagner. Abronia Arboreal Alligator Lizard. Reptiles Magazine. Accessed at
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Lizard-Species/Abronia-Arboreal-Alligator-Lizards/
Project Abronia. 2008. Accessed at http://projectabronia.com/
Viva Natura. Arbonia graminea Facts. Accessed at http://vivanatura.org/Abronia_graminea.html
Updated 2008