Green arboreal alligator lizard

Abronia graminea

Range

Veracruz, Mexico, Puebla, Mexico

Habitat

Arboreal inhabitant of humid cloud-forest canopies, especially among bromeliads and dense vegetation; reported from approximately 1,350–2,740 m elevation and commonly around 40 m above the forest floor.

Diet

Insects, Other small invertebrates, Arthropods, Lizards

Facts

• Its color can range from teal-blue to deep green, set off by a pale yellow belly and yellow eye ring. Young lizards are paler and have dark stripes along the sides.
• This lizard lives above the ground in cloud-forest canopies, often among bromeliads and dense vegetation. It has been reported at elevations from approximately 1,350–2,740 m and commonly around 40 m above the forest floor.
• A prehensile tail helps identify its arboreal body plan: the tail is adapted for gripping as the lizard moves through vegetation.
• Unlike an egg-laying lizard, this species gives birth to live young. Reported reproductive figures differ between sources, ranging from approximately 7–12 young annually in one account to a ReptTraits mean of 5.0318877551020407.
• Its cloud-forest habitat faces pressure from forest destruction and agricultural expansion, while collection for the pet trade is also reported as a threat.

Research sources

• GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
• ReptTraits — Abronia graminea
• Emerald alligator lizard