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Sceloporus taeniocnemis

Guatemalan Emerald Spiny Lizard


Sceloporus taeniocnemis

Cope, 1885
Lagartija Espinosa Esmeralda Chiapaneca

Family: Phrynosomatidae
Order: Squamata
Class: Reptilia
Phylum / Division: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia

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Records from México
Records from Chiapas
Records from Yajalón
Records from Predio particular


Description


Sceloporus taeniocnemis, also known commonly as the Guatemalan emerald spiny lizard and la chachapaja in Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to Guatemala and adjacent southeastern Mexico. There are two recognized subspecies.

Geographic range: S. taeniocnemis is found in central Guatemala and in the Mexican state of Chiapas.

Habitat: The preferred natural habitat of S. taeniocnemis is forest, at altitudes of .

Reproduction: S. taeniocnemis is viviparous.

Subspecies: The following two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
  • Sceloporus taeniocnemis taeniocnemis
  • Sceloporus taeniocnemis hartwegi


Etymology: The subspecific name, hartwegi, is in honor of American herpetologist Norman Edouard Hartweg.

Source: Wikipedia, article Sceloporus taeniocnemis. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 16/07/2026.





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Foto
Photography ID: 104576
  Adult

Yajalón
Chiapas
Mexico
07/03/2015
Rogelio Martínez



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Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
30084503/07/2015MexicoChiapasPredio particular, YajalónRogelio Martínez
Page 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Guatemalan Emerald Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus taeniocnemis) – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 17/10/2026.