Liolaemus isabelae
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liolaemus_isabelae
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Liolaemus isabelae faces severe habitat degradation from mining activities and urban expansion within its restricted range in northern Chile. The species' specialized adaptation to high-altitude volcanic environments makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force populations to retreat to increasingly limited suitable habitat at higher elevations. Agricultural development and livestock grazing further fragment the already small patches of suitable habitat, while introduced species may compete for resources or prey upon juveniles.
Habitat
This lizard species inhabits high-altitude volcanic slopes and rocky outcrops in the Andes Mountains of northern Chile, typically found in areas with sparse vegetation and well-drained soils. It occupies specialized microhabitats among rock crevices and boulder fields between 3,000-4,200 meters elevation, where it can thermoregulate effectively in the harsh montane environment.
