Sceloporus nelsoni

Sceloporus nelsoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Sceloporus
Species:
S. nelsoni
Binomial name
Sceloporus nelsoni
Cochran, 1923
Subspecies
  • Sceloporus nelsoni nelsoni Cochran, 1923
  • Sceloporus nelsoni barrancarum
    W. Tanner & Robison, 1960

Sceloporus nelsoni, also known commonly as Nelson's lizard, Nelson's spiny lizard, and la espinosa de Nelson in Mexican Spanish, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Sceloporinae of the family Phrynosomatidae.[2] The species is endemic to Mexico,[1][2] and contains two recognized subspecies: Sceloporus nelsoni barrancarum and Sceloporus nelsoni nelsoni.[2][3]

Etymology

The specific name, nelsoni, is in honor of American ornithologist Edward William Nelson.[4]: 188 

Geographic distribution

Sceloporus nelsoni is endemic to Mexico, being distributed in western Mexico in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Its distribution extends from southern Sonora, southwestern Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Nayarit, and central Jalisco.[1] The type locality of the subspecies S. n. barrancarum is in Urique, Chihuahua. The type locality of the subspecies S. n. nelsoni is in Plomosas, Sinaloa.[2]

Habitat

Sceloporus nelsoni occurs in habitats of lowlands with tropical deciduous and semi-deciduous forests on rocks, often being associated with rocky slopes.[1]

Reproduction

Sceloporus nelsoni is oviparous.[2]

Subspecies

The following two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]

  • Sceloporus nelsoni barrancarum W. Tanner & Robison, 1960 – northern Nelson's lizard, espinosa boreal de Nelson
  • Sceloporus nelsoni nelsoni Cochran, 1923 – southern Nelson's lizard, espinosa austral de Nelson

Conservation

The IUCN Red List has assessed Seloporus nelsoni as "Least Concern" in 2007, due to its wide distribution, presumed large population, and lack of any known major threats. It also occurs in at least one protected area.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Frost, D.R.; Hammerson, G.A.; Ponce-Campos, P.; Gadsden, H. (2007). "Sceloporus nelsoni ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007 e.T64129A12747671. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64129A12747671.en. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sceloporus nelsoni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 10 November 2021.
  3. ^ "ADW: Sceloporus nelsoni: CLASSIFICATION". animaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  4. ^ Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.

Further reading

  • Cochran, D.M. (1923). "A new lizard of the genus Sceloporus ". Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. 13 (9): 185–186. (Sceloporus nelsoni, new species).
  • Tanner, W.W.; Robison, W.G., Jr. (1960). "New Name for a Chihuahua Lizard". Herpetologica. 16 (2): 114.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) ("Sceloporus nelsoni barrancorum [sic]", new name).