Adult Female in-situ, Tamaulipas, Mexico
LOWLAND TROPICAL NIGHT LIZARD
Lepidophyma sp. nov. –
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
This undescribed species has been found at scattered localities in southern Tamaulipas and Veracruz, Mexico. Most of these sites are around 100 meters elevation.
HABITAT:
I have found this species in the twilight zone of a cave mouth in Tamaulipas, Mexico. It also occurs in lowland Tropical Forest of Veracruz.
Cave Wall Habitat, Tamaulipas, Mexico
NATURAL HISTORY:
This species is viviparous, insectivorus and both diurnal and nocturnal. In May I found a female in the late stages of pregnancy.
TAXONOMY:
This species currently masquerades under the name L. sylvaticum.
TYPE:
Undescribed.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have found this species on multiple occasions in a cave within Tropical Deciduous Forest in Tamaulipas. I have found individuals at the entrance outside the cave within crevices, and inside the twilight zone of the cave out on the open walls. In May, 2003 I found an adult male and female a few feet apart; the female was in the late stages of pregnancy. When captured this species doesn’t hesitate to inflict a nasty bite.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
This species is probably not in danger of local or widespread extirpation.
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