Gerrhonotus liocephalus

Gerrhonotus liocephalus, also known commonly as the Texas alligator lizard, Wiegmann's alligator lizard, and la culebra con pata in Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is native to Texas, Mexico, and Guatemala.^[2] There are three recognized subspecies.

Gerrhonotus liocephalus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Anguimorpha
Family:	Anguidae
Genus:	Gerrhonotus
Species:	G. liocephalus
Binomial name
Gerrhonotus liocephalus Wiegmann, 1828
Synonyms[2]
Gerrhonotus tesselatus Wiegmann, 1834 Pterogasterus tesselatus (Wiegmann, 1834) Scincus ventralis Peale & Green, 1830 Pterogasterus ventralis (Peale & Green, 1830)

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Gerrhonotus liocephalus are forest and shrubland.^[1]

Behavior

Gerrhonotus liocephalus is terrestrial.^[1]

Diet

Gerrhonotus liocephalus preys predominately upon insects.^[1]

Reproduction

Gerrhonotus liocephalus is oviparous.^[1][2]

Subspecies

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

• Gerrhonotus liocephalus austrinus Hartweg & Tihen, 1946
• Gerrhonotus liocephalus liocephalus Wiegmann, 1828
• Gerrhonotus liocephalus loweryi Tihen, 1948

Etymology

The subspecific name, loweryi, is in honor of American ornithologist George Hines Lowery, Jr.^[3]: 161