The Mexican alligator lizard adopts an arboreal lifestyle and is commonly found inhabiting the bromeliads among mesic cloud or pine-oak forest canopies.[6][7][8][9] This habitat offers a humid temperate climate with summer rains. The preferred diet of this species is a variety of insects.[6][10] Colour patterns of the Mexican alligator lizard can range from bright emerald green to dark teal blue;[8][9] juvenile colouration is a tan ground colour with dark crossbands.[3][7][11]
The IUCN rates the Mexican alligator lizard as endangered.[3][1] Decline of the species is mainly the result of habitat fragmentation due to fire, deforestation, and land use change for agriculture.[6][10] Illegal trafficking for the pet trade has also contributed to the status of this species.[6]
^ abcdClause, Adam, G.; Solano-Zavaleta, Israel; Vazquez-Vega, Luis Felipe (2016). "Captive reproduction and neonate variation in Abronia graminea (Squamata: Anguidae)". Herpetological Review. 47 (2): 231–234.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Clause, Adam, G.; Solano-Savaleta, Israel; Soto-Huerta, Karlo Antonio; Perez y Soto, Rosalia de la A.; Hernandez-Jiminez, Carlos A. (30 April 2018). "Morphological similarity in a zone of sympatry between two Abronia (Squamata: Anguidae), with comments on ecology and conservation". Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 13 (1): 183–193 – via Web of Science.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abcdAlejandro, Zaldivar Riveron; Schmidt, Walter; Heimes, Peter (12 January 2004). "Abronia graminea (Cope, 1864)"(PDF). National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO). Retrieved 22 March 2020.
^ abCampbell, Jonathan A.; Frost, Darrel R. (3 September 1993). "Anguid lizards of the genus Abronia: Revisionary notes, descriptions of four new species, a phylogenetic analysis, and key". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (216): 1–121. hdl:2246/823.
^ abClause, Adam G.; Jimenez-Velaquez, Gustavo; Perez-Mendoza, Hibraim A. (March 2016). "Reptilia: Squamata (lizards)"(PDF). Mesoamerican Herpetology. 3 (1): 142–145. ISSN2373-0951.
^ abMartin, Paul S. (19 August 1955). "Herpetological records from the Gómez Farías region of southwestern Tamaulipas, México". Copeia. 1955 (3). American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH): 173–180. doi:10.2307/1440457. JSTOR1440457.