Southern sagebrush lizard
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| Sceloporus graciosus |
The Southern sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus graciosus) is a small (4.8-7.3 cm long) grey or brown species of lizards with contrasting blotches or crossbars on the dorsum, and black bars on shoulder. It has a rusty color in axilla, neck and on the sides of the body. The dorsal scales are weakly keeled and pointed. It has blue ventral patches, and has white patches behind its legs.
Younger lizards lack the blue throat and ventral patches. Male individuals have a swollen tail base with enlarged paired scales just posterior of the vent. They also have femoral pores and blue-green flecks on their dorsal scales. Females have less vivid markings, and lack or have pale, reduced blue ventral patches.
S. graciosus is primarily a chaparral and montane species. It occurs sympatrically with Uta stansburiana and Sceloporus occidentalis at high elevations.
[edit] References
- This article is based on a description from "A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California", Robert N. Fisher and Ted J. Case, USGS, http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide/index.htm.
