Gerrhonotus Explained

Gerrhonotus is a genus of anguid lizards that are commonly referred to as alligator lizards, due to a vague resemblance to an alligator. Most species are restricted to Mexico, but a few range into Guatemala or Texas, and G. rhombifer is from Costa Rica and Panama. Along with glass lizards (Ophisaurus) and many other lizards, alligator lizards have the ability to regrow their tail.

Species and subspecies

There are nine recognized species in the genus Gerrhonotus. One species has recognized subspecies.^[1]

• Gerrhonotus farri – Farr's alligator lizard^[2]
• Gerrhonotus infernalis – Texas alligator lizard
• Gerrhonotus lazcanoi
• Gerrhonotus liocephalus – smooth-headed alligator lizard, Texas alligator lizard, Wiegmann's alligator lizard
  • Gerrhonotus liocephalus austrinus
  • Gerrhonotus liocephalus liocephalus
  • Gerrhonotus liocephalus loweryi – Lowery's alligator lizard^[2]
• Gerrhonotus lugoi – Lugo's alligator lizard^[2]
• Gerrhonotus mccoyi
• Gerrhonotus ophiurus
• Gerrhonotus parvus – pygmy alligator lizard
• Gerrhonotus rhombifer – isthmian alligator lizard

Further reading

• Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978). Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Company. xi + 378 pp. . (Genus Gerrhonotus, pp. 292, 294).
• Wiegmann AF (1828). "Beyträge zur Amphibienkunde". Isis von Oken 21 (4): 364–383. (Gerrhonotus, new genus, p. 379). (in German and Latin).

Notes and References

1. www.reptile-database.org.
2. [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]