LIPETZ’ TROPICAL NIGHT LIZARD
Lepidophyma lipetzi – Smith & Alvarez del Toro 1977
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
This species is known only from the type locality in northwestern Chiapas, Mexico.
HABITAT:
The only two specimens known were collected from the walls of caves; these caves lie within Tropical Forest.
NATURAL HISTORY:
This species occurs in sympatry with L. flavimaculatum at the type locality. It’s natural history is probably similar to that of L. smithi and L. sylvaticum.
TAXONOMY:
This species is closely related to L. flavimaculatum, L. chicoasense and L. mayae.
TYPE:
Described as Lepidophyma lipetzi by H. M. Smith and M. Alvarez del Toro (1977). Holotype: UCM 51425. Type locality: ‘‘Lago de Mal Paso, headwaters of Rio de La Venta, 30 km N Cintalapa (straight line), Chiapas, Mexico.’’
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species, having never sought it in the wild.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
This species is known only from a single locality in a region where deforestation is occuring at an alarming rate. If it is a cave specialist, deforestation may not pose a direct threat to it’s survival but more research is needed to determine this. Until more data becomes available, this species should be afforded special protection.
REFERENCES:
Smith, H.M., and M. Alvarez del Toro. 1977. A new troglodytic lizard (Reptilia, Lacertilia, Xantusiidae) from Mexico. Journal of Herpetology 11:37–40.