Aspidoscelis labialis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	TEIIDAE

Scientific Name:	Aspidoscelis labialis
Species Authority:	(Stejneger, 1890)
Synonym/s:	Cnemidophorus labialis Stejneger, 1890
Taxonomic Notes:	Reeder et al. (2002) examined phylogenetic relationships of the whiptail lizards of the genus Cnemidophorus based on a combined analysis of mitochondrial DNA, morphology, and allozymes. They determined that Cnemidophorus in the traditional sense is paraphyletic and thus in need of nomenclatural revision. Rather than subsume all cnemidophorine species (including Kentropyx) in a single large genus (Ameiva), they proposed a split that placed the North American "Cnemidophorus" clade in the monophyletic genus Aspidoscelis; under this arrangement, South American taxa remain in the genus Cnemidophorus.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Vulnerable B1ab(iii) ver 3.1
Year Published:	2007
Assessor/s:	Hollingsworth, B. & Frost, D.R.
Reviewer/s:	Cox, N., Chanson, J.S. & Stuart, S.N. (Global Reptile Assessment Coordinating Team)
Justification: Listed as Vulnerable because its extent of occurrence is less than 20,000 km², its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its forest habitat.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This Mexican endemic is distributed in a narrow band along the western coast of the Baja California peninsula. It ranges from Punta San José in northern Baja California, southward to Bahìa Sebastian Vizcaino in northern Baja California Sur (Grismer 2002).
Countries:	Native: Mexico
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is commonly seen in suitable habitat.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is a specialised species living on fine, windblown, sandy hummocks and dunes. It is sensitive to disturbance of its habitat.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Populations are generally threatened by the intensified use, and expansion of, agricultural land, and by urbanization, within their coastal range, especially on the San Quintin coastal plain. It is less threatened south of San Quintin, south to the Baja California - Baja California Sur state boundary.

Major Threat(s):

Populations are generally threatened by the intensified use, and expansion of, agricultural land, and by urbanization, within their coastal range, especially on the San Quintin coastal plain. It is less threatened south of San Quintin, south to the Baja California - Baja California Sur state boundary.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The southern part of the species range is within the Valle de Los Cirios Flora and Fauna Protection Area and the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. There is a need to maintain and protect suitable coastal dune habitat for this species.

Conservation Actions:

The southern part of the species range is within the Valle de Los Cirios Flora and Fauna Protection Area and the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. There is a need to maintain and protect suitable coastal dune habitat for this species.

Citation:	Hollingsworth, B. & Frost, D.R. 2007. Aspidoscelis labialis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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