Sceloporus nelsoni, Nelson's spiny lizard or southern Nelson's lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae.[2] It is endemic to Mexico.[1][2] This species contains 2 further subspecies, Sceloporus nelsoni barrancarum and Sceloporus nelsoni nelsoni.[3][2]

Sceloporus nelsoni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Sceloporus
Species:
S. nelsoni
Binomial name
Sceloporus nelsoni
Cochran, 1923
Subspecies
  • Sceloporus nelsoni nelsoni Cochran, 1923
  • Sceloporus nelsoni barrancarum Tanner & Robison, 1960

Distribution & habitat edit

S. nelsoni is endemic to Mexico, being distributed in western Mexico in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Its distrubution extends from southern Sonora, southwestern Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Nayarit, and central Jalisco.[4] The type locaity of the subspecies S. n. barrancarum is in Urique, Chihuahua. The type locality of the subspecies S. n. nelsoni is in Plomosas, Sinaloa.[2] The species occurs in habitats of lowlands with tropical deciduous and semi-deciduous forests on rocks, often being assosiated with rocky slopes.[4]

Conservation edit

The IUCN Red List has assessed S. nelsoni as 'Least concern' in 2007, due to its wide distribution, presumed large population, and lack of any known major threats. It also occurs in at least 1 protected area.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Frost, D.R.; Hammerson, G.A.; Ponce-Campos, P.; Gadsden. H. (2007). "Sceloporus nelsoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T64129A12747671. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64129A12747671.en. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Sceloporus nelsoni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 10 November 2021.
  3. ^ "ADW: Sceloporus nelsoni: CLASSIFICATION". animaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  4. ^ a b c "IUCN Red List, Sceloporus nelsoni". www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2024-03-18.