Imbricate Alligator Lizard

Fascinating facts about the Imbricate Alligator Lizard

• It lives in the Mexican states of Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, and Zacatecas.
• It inhabits forest and grassland at elevations of 1,200–3,000 m (3,900–9,800 ft).
• It preys predominantly on insects but will also kill and eat small vertebrates.
• Litter size is up to 11 newborns, and the species is described as viviparous and ovoviviparous.
• Female reproductive cycles kick off with follicle growth in June and ovulation by late August-September, tightly tied to rainfall rather than temperature or daylight, highlighting how precipitation alone can drive the timing of life in these high-elevation ecosystems.

At a glance

About the Imbricate Alligator Lizard

The imbricate alligator lizard, Barisia imbricata, is a medium-sized member of the Anguidae family endemic to Mexico. It inhabits forest and grassland at elevations of 1,200–3,000 m. It is terrestrial and preys mainly on insects but also eats small vertebrates. Females are viviparous or ovoviviparous, with litters of up to eleven young, and ovarian activity is positively correlated with precipitation rather than temperature or photoperiod. Males show testicular recrudescence in spring, peak activity in summer, and regression in September, correlated with photoperiod and precipitation.

More reptiles to discover

Browse Feravox