several hours. Each female will only give birth to one litter per year, of between 7 and 14 babies per litter. The breeding season for this species can be as broad as July to November with the newborns being delivered between the months of March to July. The gestation period for this lizard is between 6 and 8 months, during which time the female will gain weight and develop what is known as “chalk sacs” on her jowls as a calcium supply. After birth, she does not provide any postnatal care to her young. Once born, these lizards do not need to rely on a limited diet, but can begin consuming the same material as their adult counterparts. Threats The major threat to biodiversity for the Cope's arboreal alligator lizard is determined by the IUCN Red List to be the destruction of their habitat. Degradation and fragmentation of their suitable habitat has occurred as a side effect from construction, agricultural formation, and coal mining, as these activities require deforestation in these areas. These lizards are also frequently used in the pet trade, taking them from their native habitats and distributing them around the globe, which also depletes their native population sizes. Their native geographic range in Guatemala is not currently under protection for conservation or restoration efforts. References Abronia Reptiles of Guatemala Reptiles described in 1869