Newman’s Knob Scaled Lizard habitat, appearance, Conservation

The scientific name of  Newman’s Knob Scaled Lizard is Xenosaurus Newmanorum. It is a Greek word “Xenos” means “strange” and “Saurus” means “Lizard”.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordate

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Family: Xenosanuridae

Genus: Xenosaurus

Species: X.Grandis

Introduction

Xenosaurus Newmanorum belongs to the Squamata species and it has a family knob-Scaled. According to an IUCN report, this is an endangered species. Which is found in Neotropics and Nearctic. This is a carnivorous animal whose body size can grow up to 117.6mm. The distribution process is through sexual reproduction. And the reproduction process is viviparous. Its bodyweight is about 31.89 g.

Appearance

The head of the Xenosaurus is large and the body is flat. It is usually found in cracks in the rocks. Its body color is dark brown and there are bands and spots on the body. Its tongue is prickly and sharp like teeth.

Distribution status

This species of lizard is found mostly in the San Luis Potosí Mexico.  It is also found in Selva, Mexico at an altitude of about 1100-2000 meters above sea level.

Habitat

All of the lizards of this species live in rock crevices. They are also abundant in Zeromatic plants, Tropical Rain Forest, Oak Forest. Lizards have a special attachment to the habitat where they live. And they spend almost 95% of their life just 1-2 rocks.

It sits quietly for hunting and waiting for its food. It eats most of the time insects that are found around their hiding places. As soon it sees its prey, it grabs it quickly and then enters its hiding place. Like other lizards, this species licks its prey to get a chemical odor from its prey. It can’t smell with its tongue.

But they have a specific organ called a “Jackson”. In addition to insects, they also eat plants fragments and mammal meat. Due to which scientists also called it opportunists. Because if it is hungry, it can include any kind of plant or animal in its diet. ^[1]Xenosaurus grandis – Wikipedia

Behavior and Reproduction

This species of lizard usually lives alone in cracks. So, that it can protect his race from other members. Sometimes, when a male of this race fights with another male of the same race, they cut off each other’s heads. While females can give birth to 1-6  lizards at the same time. ^[2]0714_Xenosaurus_newmanorum.pdf (utexas.edu)

Conservation status

According to IUCN, The greatest threat to the survival of species in forests is habitat. X.Grandis’s biggest hunter is the eagle. Species of these animals are listed as unsafe in the IUCN red list. Because its population is currently declining.

The main reason for the decline in their population is the destruction of their habitats and their trapping for international the main trade. In addition, the main reason for their decline is the rise in temperature.

^[3]By Jorge Armín Escalante Pasos – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=93906195

Written by: Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Ahsan

Reviewed by:
Dr. Muhammad Tahir Ph.D. (PU)
Post Doctorate
American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA