Abronia cunemica, also known commonly as the Coapilla arboreal alligator lizard and el dragoncito de Coapilla in Mexican Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae. The species, which was described in 2024 by Adam Clause et al., is native to southern Mexico.[1]
Abronia cunemica | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Anguidae |
Genus: | Abronia |
Species: | A. cunemica
|
Binomial name | |
Abronia cunemica Clause et al., 2024
|
Geographic range
editA. cunemica is endemic to the Mexican state of Chiapas. The type locality is "vicinity of Coapilla, Municipio de Coapilla, Northern Highlands, Chiapas, Mexico".[2]
Ecology and behaviour
editA. cunemica are elusive tree-dwellers, feeding mainly on insects. They are rarely seen due to their limited distribution and ambiguous behaviour.
They can reach a length of up to 9.8 inches and are characterized by their yellow-brown scaly bodies with darker brown blotches.
References
edit- ^ Elusive ‘alligator’-like creature found in treetops of Mexico. It’s a new species. Yahoo News. By Aspen Pflughoeft. January 5, 2024. Accessed January 7, 2024.
- ^ Clause, AG; Luna-Reyes, R; Mendoza-Velázquez, OM; Nieto-Montes de Oca, A; Solano-Zavaleta, I (2024). "Bridging the gap: A new species of arboreal Abronia (Squamata: Anguidae) from the Northern Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico". PLOS ONE. 19 (1): e0295230. Bibcode:2024PLoSO..1995230C. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0295230. PMC 10763973. PMID 38170723.