Elgaria panamintina

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	ANGUIDAE

Scientific Name:

Elgaria panamintina

Species Authority

(Stebbins, 1958)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Panamint Alligator Lizard

Synonym/s:

Gerrhonotus panamintus

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B1ab(iii); C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2007

Assessor/s

Hammerson, G.A.

Evaluator/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 probably continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat; and because the population size is estimated to number fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, and is probably experiencing a continuing decline, and no subpopulation is estimated to contain more than 1,000 mature individuals.

History:

1996	–	Vulnerable (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
1994	–	Insufficiently Known (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Insufficiently Known (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Insufficiently Known (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986	–	Insufficiently Known (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known only from California in the United States. It is known several locations in desert mountains of Inyo and Mono counties, east-central California (Stebbins 2003). Some specific locations include the following: Panamint Mountains (Brewery and Limekiln springs, Surprise Canyon, Pleasant Canyon, Wildrose Canyon, middle fork of Hanaupah Canyon), Nelson Mountains (Grapevine Canyon), Inyo Mountains (Daisy Canyon, Lime Hill, Long John Canyon, French Spring), White Mountains (Batchelder Spring, Westgard Pass, Marble Canyon, Tollhouse Spring, Black Canyon, Cottonwood Canyon, Silver Creek Canyon, Coldwater Creek, above Chalfant and Hammil valleys), eastern Argus Mountains, Cosos Mountains (Banta et al. 1996). Its occurrence in talus habitat suggested to Banta et al. (1996) that the geographic range may be broader than is now known. However, the known area of occupancy is very small (probably less than 5 sq. km if one assumes that each occupied patch is 2 km long and 0.1 km wide). Elevational range is about 2,500 to 7,500 feet (760 to 2,300 m).
Countries:	Native: United States (California)

Range Description:

This species is known only from California in the United States. It is known several locations in desert mountains of Inyo and Mono counties, east-central California (Stebbins 2003). Some specific locations include the following: Panamint Mountains (Brewery and Limekiln springs, Surprise Canyon, Pleasant Canyon, Wildrose Canyon, middle fork of Hanaupah Canyon), Nelson Mountains (Grapevine Canyon), Inyo Mountains (Daisy Canyon, Lime Hill, Long John Canyon, French Spring), White Mountains (Batchelder Spring, Westgard Pass, Marble Canyon, Tollhouse Spring, Black Canyon, Cottonwood Canyon, Silver Creek Canyon, Coldwater Creek, above Chalfant and Hammil valleys), eastern Argus Mountains, Cosos Mountains (Banta et al. 1996). Its occurrence in talus habitat suggested to Banta et al. (1996) that the geographic range may be broader than is now known. However, the known area of occupancy is very small (probably less than 5 sq. km if one assumes that each occupied patch is 2 km long and 0.1 km wide). Elevational range is about 2,500 to 7,500 feet (760 to 2,300 m).

Countries:

Native:

United States (California)

Population [top]

Population:	Only 24 museum specimens from 16 localities and an additional 11 sight records have accumulated since the species was described in 1958 (Banta et al. 1996). Banta et al. (1996) mapped 23 locations. The total adult population size of this secretive and apparently rare lizard is unknown, but probably it is at least 1,000 (assuming at least 20 subpopulations of 50 or more adults). Population trends cannot be determined with certainty, but the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy have probably been relatively stable over the long term. Abundance probably has declined in some areas where the habitat has been degraded.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Only 24 museum specimens from 16 localities and an additional 11 sight records have accumulated since the species was described in 1958 (Banta et al. 1996). Banta et al. (1996) mapped 23 locations. The total adult population size of this secretive and apparently rare lizard is unknown, but probably it is at least 1,000 (assuming at least 20 subpopulations of 50 or more adults). Population trends cannot be determined with certainty, but the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy have probably been relatively stable over the long term. Abundance probably has declined in some areas where the habitat has been degraded.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This lizard occurs in regions dominated by scrub desert, Joshua tree woodland, and the lower edge of the pinyon-juniper belt (Stebbins 1985). Most known locations are in canyon riparian zones below permanent springs; but individuals may range into talus slopes some distance from the immediate riparian zone (Good 1988, Jennings and Hayes 1994, Banta et al. 1996). Individuals have been found under willow thickets along watercourses, under shrubs in drier areas, and in rock slides. When inactive, the lizards hide underground, under stones or wood, or in crevices. Habitats in order of decreasing favourability: (1) along creeks with riparian vegetation, (2) along small springs with riparian vegetation, (3) near small springs in pinyon-juniper or Joshua tree woodland, (4) pinyon juniper and Joshua tree woodland in canyons or washes. Occupied riparian zones are typically only a few metres wide and less than three km long (Jennings and Hayes 1994).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This lizard occurs in regions dominated by scrub desert, Joshua tree woodland, and the lower edge of the pinyon-juniper belt (Stebbins 1985). Most known locations are in canyon riparian zones below permanent springs; but individuals may range into talus slopes some distance from the immediate riparian zone (Good 1988, Jennings and Hayes 1994, Banta et al. 1996). Individuals have been found under willow thickets along watercourses, under shrubs in drier areas, and in rock slides. When inactive, the lizards hide underground, under stones or wood, or in crevices. Habitats in order of decreasing favourability: (1) along creeks with riparian vegetation, (2) along small springs with riparian vegetation, (3) near small springs in pinyon-juniper or Joshua tree woodland, (4) pinyon juniper and Joshua tree woodland in canyons or washes. Occupied riparian zones are typically only a few metres wide and less than three km long (Jennings and Hayes 1994).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	According to Jennings and Hayes (1994), all but a few of the known populations occur on private lands and are currently at risk from mining, feral and domestic livestock grazing, and increasing off-road vehicle activity.

Major Threat(s):

According to Jennings and Hayes (1994), all but a few of the known populations occur on private lands and are currently at risk from mining, feral and domestic livestock grazing, and increasing off-road vehicle activity.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Enhanced protection of riparian zones in desert canyons would benefit this species. It appears not to be known from any protected areas, though it might occur in some.

Conservation Actions:

Enhanced protection of riparian zones in desert canyons would benefit this species. It appears not to be known from any protected areas, though it might occur in some.

Citation:	IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 16 October 2008.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the Copyright and Data Disclaimer.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided