[Animals] Mexican blue dragon: the extravagant reptile that is in danger of extinction

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Its bright and beautiful color make this endemic species of Mexico one of the most beautiful reptiles. Meet the little blue dragon.
Originally from the Sierra Madre Oriental, this reptile is a Mexican endemic species. The blue dragon is a lizard that lives in humid forests, and is distinguished from others by the emerald color of its scales.

Although most of the specimens that have been sighted are green, there is also a record of some turquoise.

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Characteristics of the little blue dragon
The blue dragon is an endemic species of Mexico that lives mainly in the states of Puebla and Veracruz. It is a scaly-bodied lizard belonging to the subgenus Abronia, which defines a group of species that live in forests.

Most of these lizards are green, although there are turquoise in their natural habitat, explains Natalia Fierro, biologist at the Herpetology Laboratory of the UNAM Institute of Biology.

“IT IS A VERY SPECIFIC FOOD THAT PROVIDES THEM WITH THIS COLORING. IT IS STILL NOT KNOWN WHAT THIS IS DUE TO, BUT WHEN THEY ARE TAKEN TO CAPTIVITY THEY LOSE THEIR BLUE SHADE AND BECOME OPAQUE”, she POINTS.

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Because it is in danger of extinction?
The Abronia Graminea, also known as the blue dragon, was added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of threatened species in March 2007.

The Mexican reptile is threatened for two reasons:

1. Many people kill them on sight because they think they are dangerous.

“MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY ARE POISONOUS BECAUSE OF THEIR BLUE COLOR AND THEIR BLACK TONGUE, BUT THEY DO NOT REPRESENT ANY DANGER,” SAYS FIERRO.

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2. Illegal trade is the second reason why this blue animal is in danger of extinction, there is an illegal trade network of Abronias Gramineas between Mexico and Europe.

“UP TO 300 EUROS (APPROXIMATELY 7,000 MEXICAN PESOS) ARE PAID FOR A COPY,” DETAILS FIERRO.

The biologist assures that although these reptiles can live in captivity, it is not recommended that they be bought as pets, since their survival is put at risk.

“THEY ARE NOT PETS AND IT IS VERY COMPLICATED TO KEEP THEM ALIVE”, she DETAILS.

https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/dragoncito-azul-reptil-endemico-de-mexico-en-peligro-de-extincion/