Banded rock lizard

banded rock lizard
Petrosaurus mearnsi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Petrosaurus
Species: P. mearnsi
Binomial name
Petrosaurus mearnsi
(Stejneger, 1894)
Synonyms
  • Uta mearnsi Stejneger, 1894
  • Streptosaurus mearnsi - Mittleman, 1942
  • Petrosaurus mearnsi - Stebbins, 1985[1]

The banded rock lizard (Petrosaurus mearnsi) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard. The specific name, mearnsi, is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens.[2]

Contents

Geographic range

It is endemic to extreme southern California and Baja California, Mexico.[3]

Description

Petrosaurus mearnsi is an extremely flat-bodied lizard. Its dorsum is olive, brown or gray, with white or bluish spots. It has a single black collar, a banded tail, and granular scales on its body, with keeled tail and limb scales. It is 6.2 to 8.7 cm long SVL (snout to vent length). Males have more pronounced throat patterns and brighter blue coloring than females.

Habitat

These lizards are associated with boulder hillsides.

References

  1. ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. ^ Beltz, Ellin. 2006. Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained. ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html.
  3. ^ H.M. Smith and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America, A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. pp. 110-111.