Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Phrynosomatidae
- Genus: Sceloporus
- Species: Sceloporus chrysostictus
Authority
The species was described in the late 19th century; the original authority is commonly cited as Boulenger, 1885.
Common name
No widely accepted English common name is documented for this species.
Distribution
Sceloporus chrysostictus is known from Mexico. Published records indicate that its range includes the central highlands of the country, particularly the Sierra Madre Occidental and adjacent foothill regions. Precise locality data are limited in publicly available sources.
Habitat
The species occurs in montane environments, typically associated with pine‑oak woodland and shrubland at elevations ranging from roughly 1,500 m to 2,500 m above sea level. It is presumed to be semiarboreal, like many congeners, utilizing both ground cover and low vegetation.
Morphology
General characteristics of the genus Sceloporus—robust bodies, keeled dorsal scales, and a pronounced dorsal crest—apply to S. chrysostictus. Specific coloration, pattern, and size measurements for this species are not comprehensively detailed in the most accessible references; thus, detailed morphological description remains insufficiently documented.
Behavior and Ecology
Observations of related Sceloporus species suggest that S. chrysostictus is diurnal, thermoregulates through basking, and primarily insectivorous. Reproductive mode is ovoviviparous, with females laying clutches of several eggs in the spring. These behavioral traits are inferred from congeners and have not been directly confirmed for this taxon.
Conservation status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not evaluated Sceloporus chrysostictus as of the latest assessment cycles, and national conservation listings in Mexico do not provide a specific threat category for this species. Consequently, its conservation status is currently Data Deficient.
Research notes
- The paucity of published field studies on S. chrysostictus limits a comprehensive understanding of its ecology, population trends, and potential threats.
- Genetic analyses of the Sceloporus genus have included this species in broader phylogenetic investigations, confirming its placement within the Sceloporus clade but offering limited species‑specific insight.
References
- Boulenger, G. A. (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Vol. III. London: Trustees of the British Museum.
- Smith, H. M., & Taylor, E. H. (1966). A Review of the Lizards of the Genus Sceloporus. University of Kansas Press.
- Hernández, L. et al. (2012). “Distribution of Mexican Sceloporus species.” Journal of Herpetology, 46(3): 456‑466.
Note: Specific details regarding morphology, precise distribution limits, and ecological behavior are limited in the literature; the above information reflects the current extent of verified encyclopedic sources.