PAJAPAN TROPICAL NIGHT LIZARD
Lepidophyma pajapanense – Werler 1957
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
This species occurs in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas of Veracruz (between Volcan San Martin Tuxtla and Volcan San Martin Pajapan), and in the vicinity of the Rio Coatzacoalcos near Jesus Carranza, Veracruz. Elevational distribution from 0-1500 m. The record of a specimen from Huayacacotla, Veracruz (Aguilar Cortes et al., 1990) is in now in doubt (Bezy and Camarillo, 2002).
HABITAT:
In the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas this species is reported to be found beneath the bark and between the buttresses of trees within the rain forest (Vogt et al., 1997).
NATURAL HISTORY:
This species is reportedly nocturnal, and like other members of the Genus, viviparous and insectivorus. It is found in microsympatry with L. tuxtlae in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, and in sympatry with both L. tuxtlae and L. flavimaculatum near the Rio Coatzacoalcos. The male and female reproductive cycles are reportedly asynchronous and four to eight young are born in late May or early June (Mendez-de la Cruz et al., 1999).
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
Described as Lepidophyma pajapanensis by J. E. Werler (1957). Holotype: FMNH 78382. Type locality: ‘‘southeast slopes of Volcan San Martin Pajapan, Veracruz, Mexico; elevation 3,500 feet.’’ Nomenclature corrected to Lepidophyma pajapanense by Perez-Higareda (1978).
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have never found this species in the wild despite spending 2 days in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
This species occurs within protected areas in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, and is probably not in need of any special protection.
REFERENCES:
Aguilar Cortes, R., J.L. Camarillo R., and R.L. Bezy. 1990. Distribution, species status, and reproductive mode of the xantusiid lizard Lepidophyma pajapanensis. Southwestern Naturalist 35:273–274.
Mendez-de la Cruz, F.R., M. Villagran-Santa Cruz, O. Hernandez-Gallegos, N.L. Manriquez-Moran, and F.J. Rodriguez-Romero. 1999. Reproductive cycle of the tropical night lizard Lepidophyma pajapanensis from Veracruz, Mexico. Journal of Herpetology 33:336–339.
Vogt, R.C., J.L. Villareal Benitz, and G. Perez-Higareda. 1997. Lista anotada de anfibios y reptiles. In Historia natural de los Tuxtlas, ed. E. Gonzalez Soriano, R. Dirzo, and R.C. Vogt, 507–522. Mexico: Universidad Autonoma de Mexico.
Werler, J.E. 1957. A new lizard of the genus Lepidophyma from Volcan San Martin Pajapan. Herpetologica 13:223–226.