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occiput to the base of the tail (Brown 1950). Osteologically, it has supranasal expansion, prefrontal-superciliary contact, a single preocular, loss of one canthal/loreal element, and two temporals contacting the orbit (Good 1988). The color pattern of this species undergoes considerable change with age. Hatchlings are a deep metallic brown with well-defined white crossbands (Bartlett 1999). Adult color pattern ranges from a tan yellowish to a reddish brown with eight to ten lighter crossbands on the dorsum that are weakly edged with brown. The head and ventrum are unmarked with the tail being similar to the dorsum. Crossbands on aged specimens are vague. Texas
Alligator Lizard hatchlings are around four inches in length, and can reach up to 20 inches in length at full maturiy (Bevans 1956).
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The Texas alligator lizard is a medium-sized lizard, attaining a maximum total length (including tail) of around 24 to 25 in (61 to 64 cm). It is the largest lizard species in Texas, and one of the largest alligator lizards in the world. This lizard has a flat, wedge-shaped head. Its body
337:
Errhonotine lizards are known for their broad heads, short limbs and being heavily armored with scales, from which the common name alligator lizard derived. Gerrhonotus liocephalus, in particular, can be easily recognized by 16 longitudinal rows of dorsal scales and 46 to 54 dorsal scales from the
417:
are laid per year. Females will often stay near the nesting site to protect it, but no parental care occurs once the young alligator lizards hatch. The young generally have more striking markings, and are only about 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) long (including tail).
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surfaces, and uniformly light-colored, white, or grey on its ventral surfaces. Its scales are very stiff and plate-like. It has short limbs, and a tail that can fall off to distract a potential predator, but will regrow in time.
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crevices. Though uncommonly seen in its most suitable habitats, Gerrhonotus liocephalus has a range from the
Edwards Plateau of Central Texas, south throughout low-mid elevations in eastern Mexico.
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512:(1859). "Description of New Genera and Species of North American Lizards in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution".
350:, with quite good vision. Though not generally aggressive, it may bite if handled, and is incorrectly considered to be
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Hammerson, G.A.; Vazquez Díaz, J.; Gadsden. H.; Quintero Díaz, G.E.; Ponce-Campos, P.; Lavin, P. (2007).
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A Field Guide to
Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition
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Reptiles and
Amphibians: A Guide to Familiar Species: A Golden Nature Guide
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The
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians
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is often found on rocky hillsides, where it hides among the stones or in
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Proceedings of the
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
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https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Gerrhonotus_liocephalus/
559:. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1-48.
615:. Revised Edition. New York: Simon and Schuster. 160 pp. (
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Reptiles of North
America: A Guide to Field Identification
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The Texas alligator lizard is a relatively slow, diurnal
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409:Breeding occurs year-round; sometimes, multiple
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460:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63707A12707760.en
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937:Natural history of the Mexican Plateau
947:Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird
537:. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp.
7:
847:
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912:IUCN Red List least concern species
579:, p. 134 + Plate 13 + Map 94).
446:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
325:color, often with darker brown and
304:, and south into adjacent northern
865:. You can help Knowledge (XXG) by
603:Gerrhonotus liocephalus infernalis
593:. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp.
577:Gerrhonotus liocephalus infernalis
547:Gerrhonotus liocephalus infernalis
231:Gerrhonotus liocephalus infernalis
14:
849:
82:
932:Fauna of the Rio Grande valleys
1:
922:Reptiles of the United States
296:to the central region of the
523:, new species, p. 255).
490:. www.reptile-database.org.
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942:Reptiles described in 1859
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329:checker patterning on its
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79:Scientific classification
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55:
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857:This lizard from family
38:Texas Alligator Lizard,
617:Gerrhonotus liocephalus
389:, but it may sometimes
24:Texas alligator lizard
685:Gerrhonotus infernalis
655:Gerrhonotus infernalis
632:Gerrhonotus infernalis
521:Gerrhonotus infernalis
483:Gerrhonotus infernalis
439:Gerrhonotus infernalis
267:Gerrhonotus infernalis
262:Texas alligator lizard
243:Gerrhonotus infernalis
222:Gerrhonotus infernalis
188:Gerrhonotus infernalis
41:Gerrhonotus infernalis
453:: e.T63707A12707760.
619:, pp. 66, 155).
488:The Reptile Database
377:The primary diet of
611:, Smith HM (1956).
49:Conservation status
927:Reptiles of Mexico
605:, pp. 88–89).
354:by many cultures.
170:G. infernalis
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811:Open Tree of Life
647:Taxon identifiers
292:. The species is
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16:Species of lizard
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519:: 253–256. (
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464:. Retrieved
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405:Reproduction
393:on nestling
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917:Gerrhonotus
785:NatureServe
733:iNaturalist
679:Wikispecies
466:20 November
312:Description
226:Baird, 1859
157:Gerrhonotus
906:Categories
829:infernalis
422:References
385:and other
527:Behler JL
497:Another:
367:limestone
300:state of
280:subfamily
164:Species:
102:Kingdom:
96:Eukaryota
859:Anguidae
790:2.102509
751:11199178
670:Q3018602
664:Wikidata
589:(1982).
583:Smith HM
555:(1975).
553:Conant R
533:(1979).
510:Baird SF
480:Species
411:clutches
352:venomous
342:Behavior
298:American
290:Anguidae
213:Synonyms
146:Anguidae
142:Family:
136:Squamata
126:Reptilia
116:Chordata
112:Phylum:
106:Animalia
92:Domain:
69:IUCN 3.1
725:2468299
531:King FW
399:rodents
383:insects
358:Habitat
294:endemic
285:of the
278:in the
272:species
270:) is a
152:Genus:
132:Order:
122:Class:
67: (
816:314604
803:310520
764:564557
712:463181
609:Zim HS
597:
571:
563:
541:
348:lizard
331:dorsal
319:yellow
306:Mexico
287:family
276:lizard
251:, 1994
238:, 1900
197:, 1859
777:63707
746:IRMNG
738:32048
699:3FX5L
395:birds
327:white
323:brown
302:Texas
195:Baird
863:stub
798:NCBI
772:IUCN
759:ITIS
720:GBIF
595:ISBN
569:ISBN
561:ISBN
539:ISBN
468:2021
451:2007
415:eggs
391:prey
373:Diet
260:The
249:Good
236:Cope
707:EoL
694:CoL
601:. (
545:. (
486:at
455:doi
413:of
397:or
381:is
274:of
908::
826::
824:RD
813::
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681::
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585:,
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449:.
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247:—
234:—
894:e
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880:v
869:.
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437:"
321:-
264:(
71:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
