| Big Bend Canyon Lizard | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Sceloporus |
| Species: | S. merriami |
| Subspecies: | S. m. annulatus |
| Trinomial name | |
| Sceloporus merriami annulatus Smith, 1937 |
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The Big Bend Canyon Lizard (Sceloporus merriami annulatus) is a subspecies of the Canyon Lizard native to a fairly narrow range from the Big Bend region of the US state of Texas, to eastern Coahuila in Mexico. The epithet annulatus comes from the Latin noun annulus and refers to the banded subcaudal surface. This banding is one of the key characteristics to differentiate this subspecies from Sceloporus merriami merriami. The holotype was collected by Edward Harrison Taylor and J. S. Wright in August 1931 in the Chisos Mountains of Brewster County, Texas.[1]
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The Big Bend Canyon Lizard is a medium sized lizard, growing from 4.5 to 6.25 inches in length. Their coloration varies with their choice of habitat, varying from grey to reddish, with two rows of dark spots down each side of the back and a dark line on the shoulder region. They have a fairly large head for their body size, and a dewlap which is larger in males than females. Males also have distinct blue patches on either side of their stomach.
All Canyon Lizards are diurnal and insectivorous. Their primary choice of habitat is rocky, unvegetated canyon lands with numerous crevices to hide in, and ledges to bask on. They are oviparous.