Sceloporus nelsoni, Nelson's spiny lizard or southern Nelson's lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico. This species contains 2 further subspecies, Sceloporus nelsoni barrancarum and Sceloporus nelsoni nelsoni.[1]
S. 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.[2] The type locaity of the subspecies S. n. barrancarum is in Urique, Chihuahua. The type locality of the subspecies S. n. nelsoni is in Plomosas, Sinaloa. The species occurs in habitats of lowlands with tropical deciduous and semi-deciduous forests on rocks, often being associated with rocky slopes.
The IUCN Red List has assessed S. 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 1 protected area.