The species, which was originally described in 1984 by Jonathan A. Campbell, is endemic to southern Mexico.

The specific name, ornelasi, is in honor of Julio Ornelas Martinez who assisted Campbell in fieldwork in Mexico.

[4] A. ornelasi is found in the Mexican state of Oaxaca.

[3] The natural habitat of A. ornelasi is cloud forest at altitudes of 1,500–1,600 m (4,900–5,200 ft).

This lizard from family Anguidae article is a stub.