The Sierra de San Juan, in the state of Nayarit, has just added another treasure to its biological richness: the recent identification of a new species of endemic lizard, Sceloporus mendezdelacruzi.
This discovery, detailed by UNAM Global, not only contributes to scientific knowledge of Mexican biodiversity but also highlights the importance of conserving the country’s unique ecosystems.
The discovery began by chance but significantly. Jesús Alberto Loc Barragán, a graduate of the Autonomous University of Nayarit, captured a yellow-bellied lizard with his camera, which caught his attention and led him to contact researcher Víctor Hugo Jiménez Arcos of the UNAM Iztacala School of Higher Studies.
The San Juan Mountains
In collaboration with a team of Mexican and international specialists—including Rafael Alejandro Calzada Arciniega of the UNAM Institute of Biology, Liz Alfaro Juantorena of the Center for Genomic Sciences, and scientists from the City University of New York—detailed morphological and genetic analyses were conducted.
The results confirmed the initial suspicion: it was an unknown species. In recognition of the work of renowned herpetologist Dr. Fausto Méndez de la Cruz, the research group named the new lizard Sceloporus mendezdelacruzi.
The San Juan Mountains, where this species is exclusively found, is a state-protected natural area that boasts a variety of microclimates and ecosystems. While the lower reaches are hot and dry, the higher reaches maintain temperate climates that favor the emergence of rare and endemic species. The team is currently investigating four other reptile species not yet described within the mountain.
However, despite being a protected area, the Sierra de San Juan faces various threats. Climate change, increasing urbanization, and agricultural expansion are factors that are rapidly depleting the available habitat for many species. Just two months ago, a forest fire damaged part of the habitat where the lizard was discovered.
The new species stands out for a unique trait among lizards of its genus: the yellow belly of males has not been reported in any other species of the genus, highlighting a secondary sexual characteristic that, according to the aforementioned study, is likely most intense during the reproductive season, between March and July. Furthermore, Sceloporus mendezdelacruzi has unique microscopic characteristics on its scales, such as two to four loreal scales and 15 to 19 femoral pores on each side.
Source: infobae
