New species

January 5, 2024 1:10 PM

Elusive ‘alligator’-like creature found in treetops of Mexico. Coapilla arboreal alligator lizards are “unusually large” and can reach about 9.8 inches in length, researchers said. They have yellow-brown scaly bodies covered in darker brown blotches. Their eyes are “pale yellow” with dark flecks.
posted by sardonyx (14 comments total)

Glad to read that we have finally found "Alligator Lizards in the Air", although not on Ventura Highway, alas.
posted by effluvia at 1:14 PM on January 5 [19 favorites]

I am immediately and irrevocably in love with them and wish them well
posted by Suedeltica at 1:14 PM on January 5 [8 favorites]

I am trying to figure out how they got all specimens to pose in the exact same way for their photos...
posted by caution live frogs at 1:17 PM on January 5

they are pretty cute!
posted by supermedusa at 1:19 PM on January 5 [1 favorite]

Dropgators?
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:47 PM on January 5 [7 favorites]

I got burned pretty bad by that Pacific Tree Octopus thing some years ago, so I'm always really skeptical about new species.

But he looks very polite.
posted by Horkus at 2:03 PM on January 5 [6 favorites]

Pssh. When I read “alligator lizard”, I imagined something roughly alligator sized, and was picturing mini Godzillas clambering around the treetops. In actuality they are a very disappointing 3/4 of a foot long. That they avoided discovery until now is also far less exciting at that size. But they are cute, at least.
posted by eviemath at 2:54 PM on January 5 [3 favorites]

I have the same reaction eviemath when I first saw the story posted. That's why I included the size of the lizards in my post. I didn't want anybody else to get sucked in by false advertising.
posted by sardonyx at 3:08 PM on January 5 [5 favorites]

Talk about a size queen! In some circles 9.8 inches is quite respectable!
posted by hippybear at 3:50 PM on January 5 [6 favorites]

That's why I included the size of the lizards in my post. I didn't want anybody else to get sucked in by false advertising.

Of course I see that now. It was a valiant attempt, but not enough to overcome the memetic pull of “alligator lizard”.
posted by eviemath at 4:04 PM on January 5

See, Australia? We can do that too.
posted by mmoncur at 5:20 PM on January 5

Cute lizards. Googling for other images, was surprised to find at least 10 species of arboreal alligator lizards with some crazy color variants: https://reptileworldfacts.com/2022/08/arboreal-alligator-lizards
posted by p3t3 at 5:39 PM on January 5 [2 favorites]

I was a bit disappointed to discover that they didn't really look all that much like alligators. As a kid I was a big time reptile nerd, and these look like your garden variety lizard to me. If they'd had that distinctive alligator/crocodilian head I would be looking for cheap flights. Well, one man's treasure and all that. As reptiles, I still love them, but I am much less excited.
posted by evilDoug at 1:34 PM on January 7 [2 favorites]

Concur that to me these lizards look like some kind of skink. "Alligator" is not a word that would have occurred to me, if I had been asked to describe them.
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 6:53 AM on January 8