Barisia imbricata, also known commonly as the imbricate alligator lizard, the transvolcanic alligator lizard, and el escorpión de transvolcánico in Mexican Spanish, is a species of medium-sized lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.[2]

Barisia imbricata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Anguidae
Genus: Barisia
Species:
B. imbricata
Binomial name
Barisia imbricata
(Wiegmann, 1828)
Synonyms[2]
  • Gerrhonotus imbricatus
    Wiegmann, 1828
  • Barissia [sic] imbricata
    Gray, 1845
  • Barisia imbricata
    Tihen, 1949

Geographic range edit

B. imbricata is found in the Mexican states of Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, and Zacatecas.[2]

Habitat edit

The preferred natural habitats of B. imbricata are forest and grassland, at altitudes of 1,200–3,000 m (3,900–9,800 ft).[1]

Behavior edit

B. imbricata is terrestrial.[1]

Diet edit

B. imbricata preys predominately upon insects, but it will also kill and eat small vertebrates.[1]

Reproduction edit

The mode of reproduction of B. imbricata has been described as viviparous[1] and as ovoviviparous.[2] Litter size is up to 11 newborns.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Canseco-Márquez L, Mendoza-Quijano F, Ponce-Campos P, García Aguayo A, Vázquez Díaz J, Quintero Díaz GE, Santos-Barrera G, Campbell JA (2007). "Barisia imbricata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63693A12698815. Retrieved 6 June 2022.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c d Species Barisia imbricata at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org

Further reading edit

  • Guilette LJ Jr, Casas-Andreu G (1987). "The Reproductive Biology of the High Elevation Mexican Lizard Barisia imbricata". Herpetologica 43 (1): 29–38.
  • Lemos-Espinal, Julio; Smith, Geoffrey R.; Ballinger, Royce E. (1998). "Temperature relationships of the lizard, Barisia imbricata, from México". Amphibia-Reptilia 19: 95–99.
  • Wiegmann AF (1828). "Beyträge zur Amphibienkunde". Isis von Oken 21 (4): 364–383. (Gerrhonotus imbricatus, new species). (in German and Latin).