Abronia – jewels of the cloud forest
Jason
Wagner (Nashville/Tennessee) & Christian Langner
(Billerbeck/Westphalia)
The
arboreal alligator lizards of the genus Abronia
are poorly
known even among the herpetologist community. Scientists have
identified up to 26 species, all of them from Latin America
with a concentration in Mexico and Guatemala. All species in
this genus are known to inhabit higher elevations (1,200 to
2,500 metres) and often make use of specific plants like
bromeliads in order to thermoregulate and maintain humidity.
They also experience a high day-night temperature fluctuation
at the altitudes where they occur.
Of the lizards in this genus, the best-known species is
probably Abronia
graminea (adult
male in photograph) and they are rare not only in the
terrarium but also in their natural habitat. Some species are
presumed to have already gone extinct in recent years due
mainly to massive land clearing for agriculture or charcoal
production in their isolated niche habitats, which are under
considerable pressure. In captivity, their husbandry
requirements are detailed and take a special level of
dedication if the keeper is to be successful, particularly in
areas of lighting, temperature, feeding and ventilation.
The
Abronia
are
viviparous and give birth to one litter per year. During the
last few years some captive breeding specialists have
achieved success with the genus, which had previously been
undocumented. One of the best-known specialists in the world
is Jason Wagner from Nashville, Tennessee. The American is
particularly interested in the genus and has focussed almost
exclusively on keeping and breeding them for several years.
He has had success breeding several Abronia species since
2003, and considers these "jewels of the cloud forest" to be
his main priority in herpetoculture. He is also working with
biologists in Mexico on a collaborative effort to breed the
lizards there in situ, and has already purchased land to
preserve pristine Abronia habitat for future generations.
During his lecture Jason will provide key details from his
wealth of experience in field studies and biotope surveys, as
well as on captive husbandry and breeding of several
Abronia
species.
He will be showing an impressive stock of photographs to
highlight the variety of species within the genus.
Christian
Langner from Billerbeck/Westphalia, a successful keeper and
breeder of several rare lizard species himself (only by
"coincidence" shown here with a snake, a female
Tropidolaemus
subannulatus during a
field trip to Borneo), supports the English lecture of his
American friend with a German translation and from his own
experience.
New: Jason Wagner provided his lecture as PowerPoint file for download
at this
link.
