Lepidophyma gaigeae
GAIGE’S TROPICAL NIGHT LIZARD
Lepidophyma gaigeae - Mosauer 1936
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
This species is found at moderate - high elevations of the Sierra Madre Oriental in Queretaro and Hidalgo, Mexico. It may also occur in adjacent areas of Guanajuato and San Luis Potosi along the foothills of the Sierra Gorda.
HABITAT:
L. gaigeae is most commonly found within limestone crevices in pine–oak woodland along the Sierra Madre Oriental. It has also been found on an adobe wall at Hacienda Conca in thorn scrub habitat in the Jalpan Valley, Queretaro (Dixon et al., 1972), and in a cave in xerophytic scrub near the Rio Tula, Hidalgo (Gonzalez,1995).
NATURAL HISTORY:
This species appears to be largely diurnal, although it is not generally active abroad in daylight. A captive female gave birth to a single baby in March (Dixon et al., 1972). Like other species in the Genus, L. gaigeae feeds primarily on arthropods.
TAXONOMY:
This species is closely related to the fine-scaled Lepidophyma: L. dontomasi, L. lowei and L. radula.
TYPE:
Described as Lepidophyma gaigeae by W. Mosauer (1936). Holotype: MCZ 42145. Type locality: ‘‘Durango, State of Hidalgo,
Mexico.’’
PERSONAL NOTES:
I found this species in July, 2006 in the El Lobo region of Queretaro. Several individuals were found within limestone crevices during daylight hours and one was extracated to be photographed. The lizard photographed above was observed foraging within an extensive crevice for several minutes prior to capture. Other lizards found on the same hillside were Gerrhonotus ophiurus, Sceloporus torquatus, and S. grammicus.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
This species has a somewhat limited distribution but is abundant in suitable habitat. It appears to thrive in human-altered habitat and there appears to be no immediate threat to either local populations or the species as a whole.
REFERENCES:
Bezy, R.L., and J.L. Camarillo R. 1992. Systematics of Xantusiid lizards allied with Lepidophyma gaigeae Mosauer. Herpetologica 48:97–110.
Dixon, J.R., C.A. Ketchersid, and C.S. Lieb. 1972. The herpetofauna of Queretaro, Mexico, with remarks on taxonomic problems. Southwestern Naturalist 16:225–237.
Gonzalez A., A. 1995. Distributional notes for the night lizard Lepidophyma gaigeae. Herpetological Review 26:15.
Mosauer, W. 1936. A new Xantusiid lizard of the Genus Lepidophyma. Herpetologica 1:3–5.