YAUTEPEC TROPICAL NIGHT LIZARD
Lepidophyma radula – Smith 1942
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
This species is known only from a single specimen found near San Carlos Yautepec at the eastern edge of the Sierra Madre del Sur, Oaxaca, Mexico.
HABITAT:
The type locality is reportedly Tropical Deciduous Forest.
NATURAL HISTORY:
Almost nothing is known of this species’ natural history.
TAXONOMY:
This species is closely related to the fine-scaled Lepidophyma: L. gaigeae, L. lowei and L. dontomasi.
TYPE:
Described as Gaigeia radula by H. M. Smith (1942). Holotype: USNM 111472. Type locality: ‘‘San Jose Manteca, 5 kilometers from San Carlos Yautepec, Oaxaca.’’
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have never found this species, having never sought it in the wild.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
Because almost nothing is known about this species it should be afforded some special protection until more can be ascertained about it’s distribution and natural history.
REFERENCES:
Bezy, R.L., and J.L. Camarillo R. 1992. Systematics of Xantusiid lizards allied with Lepidophyma gaigeae Mosauer. Herpetologica 48:97–110.
Smith, H. M. 1942. Mexican herpetological miscellany. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 92:349–395.