Morelet's Alligator Lizard

Mesaspis moreletii, commonly known as Morelet's alligator lizard, is a captivating reptile indigenous to Central America. This lizard belongs to the Anguidae family and is named after the French naturalist Pierre Marie Arthur Morelet.

These lizards can be found in regions of southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and possibly Nicaragua. They thrive in Central American pine-oak and cloud forests, typically residing at elevations ranging from 1,450 to 2,530 meters above sea level.

There are several subspecies of Morelet's alligator lizard, including M. moreletii, M. fulvus, M. rafaeli, M. salvadorensis, and M. temporalis. The subspecies name "rafaeli" honors Rafael Martín del Campo, a renowned Mexican herpetologist. A subspecies name enclosed in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described under a different genus before being reclassified under Mesaspis.