Added 30 December 2006. Last updated 20 October 2022: updated details for S. siniferus, S. squamosus, and S. utiformis.
The genus Sceloporus is a large one, containing very similar-looking species found across North and Central America from British Columbia in Canada and southern New York to Panama. Some are well-known, particularly in the US where they are often known as "fence lizards", and a few are kept regularly in captivity.
In my own limited experience these are very fast and agile lizards that reminded me of nothing so much as our pet chipmunk in their rapid darting movements and climbing ability. Hunziker records that the two animals do in fact act in similar ways in the wild, namely running around to a different side of the tree and peering around to see if the human is still approaching.
Given their large range, ideal captive conditions for swifts vary somewhat and therefore the exact species being dealt with should be ascertained - sometimes not an easy task. Some are temperate-zone species, while those from the southern US are used to higher temperatures and some from Mexico or Central America (when available) are high-altitude species used to considerable drops in temperature at night. Humidity will likewise vary according to geography. Habitat, activity and reproductive modes all vary within this genus, which encompasses climbers, terrestrials, egg-layers and live-bearers.
Boulenger characterises the genus as follows: tympanum distinct. Body depressed; no dorsal crest dorsal scales imbricate, keeled, equal. Upper head-scales enlarged, occipital very large. No gular fold; no gular pouch. Digits with keeled lamellae inferiorly. Femoral pores. Tail moderate or long, cylindrical or compressed. Lateral teeth tricuspid; no pterygoid teeth. A sternal fontanelle. No abdominal ribs. Smith gives the following characteristics of the genus: middorsal scales not wider than the paravertebral scales; femoral pores present; nasal separated from rostral; lacks granular fold on throat (if such is present, the lizard is not a Sceloporus species but most likely a Urosaurus or Uta, at least in the US).
In addition to the books listed in the Bibliography, there is one available in the NTV “Art fur Art” series that covers the S. malachiticus complex (presumably S. malachiticus, S. esperanzae, S. hondurensis, S. schmidti), authored by Mike Zawadski and another by the same publisher, Stachelleguane, by Heiko Werning. Both of these are German-language titles.
Owing to the large number of species in the genus, and the fact that information on Mexican species is generally harder to acquire, this page will take some time to fully detail.
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QUICK INDEX |
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S. acanthinus, Bocourt's Spiny Lizard |
S. adleri, Adler's Spiny Lizard |
S.aeneus, Southern Bunchgrass Lizard |
S. anahuacus, Anahuacan Bunchgrass Lizard |
S. arenicolus, Sand Dune Lizard |
S. asper, Boulenger's Scaly Lizard |
S. bicanthalis, Transvolcanic Bunchgrass Lizard |
S. carinatus , Keeled Spiny Lizard |
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S. cautus , Shy Spiny Lizard |
S. chaneyi , Chaney's Spiny Lizard |
S. chrysostictus, Yucatán Spiny Lizard |
S. clarkii, Clark's Spiny Lizard |
S. consobrinus, Southern Prairie Lizard |
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S. cozumelae, Cozumel Spiny Lizard |
S. cryptus, Sierra Juarez Spiny Lizard |
S. dugesii, Duges' Spiny Lizard |
S. edwardtaylori, Taylor's Spiny Lizard |
S. exsul, Quereteran Desert Lizard |
S. formosus, Emerald Spiny Lizard |
S. gadovae , Gadow's Spiny Lizard |
S. goldmani, Goldman's Bunchgrass Lizard |
S. graciosus, Sagebrush Lizard |
S. grammicus, Mesquite Lizard |
S. heterolepis, Dorsalkeel Spiny Lizard |
S. horridus, Horrible Spiny Lizard |
S. hunsakeri, Hunsaker's Spiny Lizard |
S. insignis, Michoacan Blackcollar Lizard |
S. jalapae, Jalapa Spiny Lizard |
S. jarrovii, Yarrow's Spiny Lizard |
S. licki, Cape Arboreal Spiny Lizard |
S. lineatulus, Santa Catalina Spiny Lizard |
S. lundelli, Lundell's Spiny Lizard |
S. macdougalli , Macdougall's Spiny Lizard |
S. maculosus, Spotted Spiny Lizard |
S. magister, Desert Spiny Lizard |
S. malachiticus, Emerald Swift |
S. megalepidurus, Large-Scaled Spiny Lizard |
S. melanorhinus, Pastel Tree Lizard |
S. merriami, (Merriam's) Canyon Lizard |
S. monserratensis, Monserrat Island Spiny Lizard |
S. mucronatus, Southern Crevice Spiny Lizard |
S. nelsoni, Nelson's Spiny Lizard |
S. occidentalis, Northern Fence Swift |
S. ochoterenae, Quereteran Spiny Lizard |
S. olivaceus, Texan Spiny Lizard |
S. orcutti, Granite Spiny Lizard |
S. ornatus, Ornate Spiny Lizard |
S. poinsetti, Crevice Spiny Lizard |
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S. serrifer, Blue-Spotted Spiny Lizard |
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S. undulatus, Eastern Fence Swift |
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S. vandenbergianus, Southern Mountain Lizard |
S. variabilis, Rosebelly Spiny Lizard |
S. virgatus, Striped Plateau Lizard |
S. woodi, Florida Scrub Lizard |
S. zosteromus, Baja California Spiny Lizard |
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Scientific Name |
Common Name |
Distribution |
Size |
Notes |
Bocourt's Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala |
TL 16½cm, SVL approx 7 cm |
Scalation details: head-shields smooth; row of 4-5 very large transverse supraoculars, bordered internally by incomplete row of very small scales; 2 canthals; occiptal as long as broad, much larger than parietals; anterior border of ear with strong denticulation formed by 5 pointed scales not much larger than those preceding; dorsal scales much larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, denticulated and ending posteriorly in a long spine, forming parallel longitudinal rows; 32 scales between occipital shield and base of tail; 6 scales correspond to length of shielded part of head (8-9 in young due to head being proportionately larger); lateral scales keeled, directed obliquely upwards and backwards, gradually merging into ventrals and dorsals; ventrals smooth, distinctly bicuspid; 40 scale rows at midbody; adpressed hind limb nearly reaches ear; tibia as long as shielded part of head; 12-14 femoral pores; caudal scales a little smaller than dorsals; males have enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: male: grass-green above, with rather narrow black collar complete above and below; greenish chin; throat, breast and side of belly blue; narrow yellowish, black-edged median ventral line; female:olive-brown above, with rather ill-defined black collar; throat green; belly whitish. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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Adler's Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Guerrero) |
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??. |
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Southern Bunchgrass Lizard |
Mexico (Jalisco, Michoacan, Morelos, Puebla) |
TL 13.5 cm, SVL 6 cm |
Description: head-shields keeled or striated; an irregular series of feebly dilated transverse supraoculars; 1-2 canthal scales; occipital as long as broad; parietals very small; anterior border of ear very slightly denticulated. Dorsal scales larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, sharply pointed, forming parallel longitudinal series; 40-44 scales between the occipital and the base of the tail; 6-10 scales correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head; lateral scales nearly as large as the dorsals, more or less distinctly keeled, forming straight longitudinal or slightly oblique series; ventrals smooth, mostly bicuspid; 40-46 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches hardly the axilla in the female, the shoulder or a little beyond in the male; tibia not quite as long as the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth equals or slightly exceeds the distance between the end of the snout and the ear. 14-19 femoral pores on each side, the two series meeting medially. Caudal scales as large as, or a little smaller than the dorsals. Male with enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: metallic green or coppery above, usually with one or two lighter dorso-lateral bands on each side, with or without four longitudinal series of transverse dark-brown spots; a blackish spot in front of the shoulder; lower surfaces greenish white in the female, the throat and breast mottled with grey; in the male, the throat, breast, and belly entirely blackish-blue, or largely and closely marbled with blackish-blue. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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Anahuacan Bunchgrass Lizard |
C Mexico |
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S. angustus |
Isla Santa Cruz Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (islands of Isla San Diego and Isla Santa Cruz in the Gulf of California) |
SVL 8½cm |
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Dunes Sagebrush Lizard |
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Formerly considered a subspecies of S. graciosus. |
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Boulenger's Scaly Lizard |
Mexico (Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit) |
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??. |
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Transvolcanic Bunchgrass Lizard |
Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz) |
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??. |
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Mexico (Jalisco) |
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??. |
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Keeled Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Chiapas), poss. Guatemala? |
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??. |
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Shy Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Coahuila, Zacatecas) |
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??. |
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Chaney's Spiny Lizard |
Tamaulipas, Nevada |
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??. |
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Yucatán Spiny Lizard, Yellow-Spotted Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Campeche, Yucatán), Guatemala |
15¾cm TL, 5-5½cm/2-2¼” SVL |
Small, very wary species, abundant in thorn forest, forest edge and disturbed situations but avoids darker primary forest. Feeds on small invertebrates, occasionally cannibalistic. Scalation details: head-shields keeld or striated; 1-2 canthals; row of 4-5 large transverse supraoculars; occipital broader than long; parietals very small, 1-2 on each side; anterior border of ear very feebly denticulated; scales on upper surfaces imbricate and heavily keeled, those on lower surfaces smaller, imbricate and smooth; 40-45 scale rows between occipital shield and base of tail; 8-10 dorsal scales correspond to length of shielded part of head; 36 scale rows at midbody; caudal scales nearly as large as dorsals; 12-15 femoral pores; males have enlarged postanals. Other: limbs well developed, terminating in strong claws. Coloration: (females and subadult males) normally brown, tan or grey above; 2 rows of dark transverse bars or chevrons extending along body to tail where they may coalesce to form bands; pair of indistinct light dorsolateral stripes running from neck to base of tail; undersurfaces immaculate white, cream or yellow: (adult males) overall dark brown or grey; usually pair of distinct yellow or cream dorsolateral stripes; flanks usually dark brown or nearly black with many scattered light spots, often pinkish or orange; Both sexes have large irregular blotch (usually smaller and less distinct in females) immediately above insertion of forelimb; reproductive females have red-orange coloured lips and shoulders. Reproduction: protracted breeding season, with multiple clutches of 1-4 eggs; sexual maturity reached within 1 year. [SOURCE: Boulenger, Lee] |
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Clark's Spiny Lizard |
USA (Arizona), Mexico (Sonora, Zacatecas, Jalisco) |
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Description: differs from S. spinosus in having 12-15 femoral pores on each side. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. c. clarkii |
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??. |
S. c. boulengeri |
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?? |
S. c. uriquensis |
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??. |
S. c. vallensis |
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??. |
Southern Prairie Lizard |
USA (Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma), Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas) |
TL approx 13.5 cm, SVL approx 4.5 cm |
Description: head-shields smooth; a series of 4-5 transversely dilated supraoculars, the widest not measuring more than half the width of the supraocular region; two canthal scales; occipital as long as broad, or a little longer than broad, larger than the parietals; anterior border of ear with a strong denticulation, formed of 3-4 large pointed scales. Dorsal scales larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, slightly mucronate, tricuspid, forming parallel longitudinal series; 42-44 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail ; nine or ten scales correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head; lateral scales keeled, directed obliquely upwards, a little smaller than dorsals; ventrals smooth, bi- or tricuspid; 42 or 44 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the axilla or the cervical fold; tibia slightly shorter than the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth equals the distance between the end of the snout and the posterior border of the ear. 12-17 femoral pores. Caudal scales as large as, or a little larger than dorsals. Male with enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: reddish brown above, with a greyish vertebral band and one or two yellowish lateral bands on each side; dark-brown spots between the longitudinal bands; a blackish streak at base of humerus; lower surfaces yellowish white, uniform in the female; male with a small blue spot on each side of the throat, and an elongate black-margined blue blotch on each side of the belly, the white interspace between them measuring twice their width. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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USA (Texas), Mexico (Coahuila) |
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Scalation details: head-shields smooth; scales very small; about 80 oblique dorsal rows from head to tail; 25 femorals. Coloration: above dark green, with 2 lateral light stripes, separated by 18 scale rows; irregular spots on back; sides with white band from groin; obsolete dark indigo patch on each side of belly, widely separated below; sides of jaws banded transversely with blue and whitish; subcircular indigo patch in front of shoulder, surrounded by light blotches. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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Cozumel Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Campeche, Yucatán Peninsula and Islas Cozumel, Contoy and Mujeres) |
4½-5cm/1¾-2" SVL; TL approx. 10-12cm/4-5" |
This species is abundant on beaches and coastal areas. It is terrestrial and very fast. Scalation: head shields feebly keeled or striated; lateral scales directed obliquely upward and backward, abruptly differentiated from the dorsals, but not granular; none of transversely enlarged supraoculars in contact with median head shields; 2 canthal scales; about 60 scales around middle of body; series of 6-10 femoral pores on each thigh, widely separated on preanal region; males have pair of enlarged postanal scales. Postfemoral pocket present. Coloration: (females and young males) overall brown or grey with light vertebral stripe; pair of light dorsolateral stripes from back of head down body on to tail; usually 2 rows of black chevrons between the stripes, the chevrons being edged posteriorly by white, light grey or yellow; (reproductive females) lips and upper parts of shoulders suffused with red-orange; upper surfaces of limbs grey or brown with light and dark spots and bars; (older males) pattern may be obscured. All individuals are ventrally white and have a noticeable black spot bordered with white or yellow above the insertion of the forelimb, this marking being more distinct in males. Reproduction: females may lay several clutches per season, each clutch consisting on average of just 2 eggs. Hatchlings reach sexual maturity within 1 year. [SOURCE: Jones, Lee] |
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Sierra Juarez Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Oaxaca) |
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Duges' Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Colima, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit) |
12cm TL |
Scalation details: head-shields smooth; supraoculars scarcely enlarged transversely; 2 canthal scales; occipital as long as broad, much larger than parietals; anterior border of ear denticulated with 4 pointed scales not larger than those preceding; dorsal scales a little larger than ventrals, broader than long, keeled, obtus, not denticulated, converging to the middle line posteriorly; 44-48 scales between occipital shield and base of tail; 9 scales correspond to shielded part of head; lateral scales keeled, pointed, directed obliquely upwards and backwards; ventrals smooth, entire. 13-15 femorals. Caudal scales a little larger than dorsals, strongly keeled. Males with enlarged postanal scales. Other: limbs short. Coloration: brownish-olive above, with double series of narrow dark brown spots on vertebral zone; sides with oblique light lines; broad blackish, light-edged scapular collar; limbs and tail with brown crossbands; lower surfaces yellowish in female, throat striped with bluish, males with throat bluish with concentric darker lines and sides of belly blue, black-edged internally. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. d. dugesii |
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S. d. intermedius |
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Taylor's Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Oaxaca) |
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Quereteran Desert Lizard |
Mexico (Queretaro) |
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Emerald Spiny Lizard
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Mexico (Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz) |
TL approx 19.5 cm, SVL approx 8.5 cm |
Ovoviparous species. Description: head-shields smooth; a series of 4-5 more or less transversely enlarged supraoculars, bordered internally by a series of usually moderate scales; 1-2 canthal scales; occipital as long as broad, much larger than the parietals, of which there are frequently 2 on each side; anterior border of ear with a strong denticulation formed by 4-5 pointed scales, which are not larger than l.hose preceding. Dorsal scales much larger than ventrals, usually longer than broad, strongly keeled, denticulated or tricuspid, and ending in a long spine posteriorly, forming parallel longitudinal series; 35-47 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail; 7-10 scales correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head; lateral scales keeled, directed obliquely upwards and backwards, gradually merging into the ventrals and dorsals; ventrals smooth, distinctly bicuspid; 36-54 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the shoulder or the ear: tibia about as long as the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth equals the distance between the end of the snout and the anterior extremity or the middle of the oblique cervical fold. 11-16 femoral pores. Caudal scales as large as or a little larger than dorsals. Male with enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: olive or green above, uniform or with blackish spots; a black scapular band, rarely meeting its fellow on the nape, extending across the throat in the males; the latter have the greater part of the throat, the belly except a narrow median whitish zone, and frequently also the pectoral region, dark blue; belly yellowish white in the females, the throat frequently blue-green. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. f. formosus |
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S. f. scitulus |
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Gadow's Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Guerrero, Michoacan, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla) |
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Goldman's Bunchgrass Lizard |
Mexico (Coahuila) |
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Sagebrush Lizard |
USA (Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Texas, Utah, Montana, Wyoming)
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TL approx 8 cm, SVL approx 4 cm |
Description: head-shields smooth ; a series of feebly dilated transverse supraoculars; 2 canthal scales; occipital very large, as broad as long; parietals very small, two on each side; anterior border of ear with a strong denticulation, formed of four or five pointed scales, which are a little larger than those preceding. Dorsal scales larger than ventrals, keeled, sharply pointed, forming parallel longitudinal lines; 52-56 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail; 12-13 (or 14) scales correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head; lateral scales keeled, directed obliquely upwards, a little smaller than dorsals; ventrals smooth, more or less distinctly bicuspid; 50 or 52 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches between the shoulder and the ear; tibia as long as the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth equals the distance between the end of the snout and the middle of the oblique cervical fold. Sixteen to eighteen femoral pores. Caudal scales larger than dorsals. Male with enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: olive above, with two light yellowish bands along each side, and series of blackish spots, sometimes confluent into longitudinal bands; male with a blue, black-edged patch on each side of the body and some irregular blackish spots on the throat. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. g. graciosus |
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S. g. gracilis |
Northern Mountain Lizard |
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Mesquite Lizard |
USA (Texas), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacan, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Zacatecas, poss. San Luis Potosí) |
SVL 4 cm |
Acknowledgements to the Wikipedia entry for some of the common names for the subspecies. Description: head-shields smooth or slightly rugose; a series of feebly dilated transverse supraoculars; 2 canthal scales; occipital a little broader than long; parietals very small, usually one pair on each side; anterior border of ear feebly denticulated. Dorsal scales larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, not or only slightly mucronate, forming oblique series; 45-50 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail; twelve to fifteen scales correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head; lateral scales keeled, directed obliquely upwards, gradually merging into the dorsals and ventrals; latter smooth, mostly entire; 46-50 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear; tibia as long as the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth slightly exceeds the distance between the end of the snout and the posterior border of the ear. 14 or 15 (13-16) femoral pores. Caudal scales much larger than dorsals. Male with enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: olive above, with transverse black spots; a narrow black scapular collar, interrupted medially; male with a blue, black-edged elongate patch on each side of the belly. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. g. grammicus |
Southern Mesquite Lizard |
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S. g. microlepidotus |
Northern Mesquite Lizard |
USA (extreme S Texas), N Mexico |
TL 4-6¾"/10-17½cm; max SVL 2¾"/7cm |
Arboreal, well-camouflaged and hence often unseen species. It is found mainly in mesquite but also other small scrubby trees, where it will often retreat to uppermost branches. Scalation details: scales on sides of neck abruptly smaller than those on the nape. Coloration: overall grey or olive-grey. (Males) sometimes metallic greenish sheen on dorsum; markings obscure; dark vertical line in front of arm; sides of venter pale blue, bordered by black towards centre of belly; throat mottled with black except centre which may be flesh-coloured or pale blue. (Females) 4-5 dark wavy lines across dorsum; foreleg distinctly barred. Reproduction: young 1½-2"/4-5cm at birth [SOURCE: Conant, Smith] |
S. g. tamaulipensis |
Tamaulipas Mesquite Lizard |
Mexico |
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S. grandaevus |
Isla Cerralvo Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Isla Cerralvo in Gulf of California) |
SVL 8cm |
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Dorsalkeel Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Durango, Jalisco, Michoacan, Sinaloa) |
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S. h. heterolepis |
Jalisco Spiny Lizard |
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S. h. shannorum |
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Horrible Spiny Lizard
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Mexico |
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Description: distinguished from S. spinosus by the smaller number of femoral pores, viz. 2-5 on each side. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. h. albiventris |
Mexico (coastal regions from N Jalisco to Nayarit and Sinoloa) |
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S. h. horridus |
Mexico (S Morelos, Guerrero, Oaxaca, S Puebla, N Jalisco to S Sinoloa, Michoacan, Colima) |
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S. h. oligoporus |
Mexico (W Guerrero, C & S Michoacan, C Jalisco to Durango) |
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Hunsaker's Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (S Baja California) |
SVL 8½cm |
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Michoacan Blackcollar Lizard |
Mexico (Jalisco, Michoacan) |
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Jalapa Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Puebla, Veracruz) |
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Yarrow's Spiny Lizard |
USA (Arizona), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Nayarit, Queretaro, Sinaloa, Sonora, Veracruz, Zacatecas) |
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The distributions given for the subspecies are somewhat approximate in the absence of more detailed information, and we acknowledge our debt to the online document pertaining thereto by the Biological Sciences Dept of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Description: Head-shields smooth; a series of large transverse supraoculars; 2 canthal scales; occipital as long as broad, much larger than the parietals ; two large auricular scales. Dorsal scales larger than ventrals, weakly keeled, shortly mucronate; about 43 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail; 10 scales correspond to the shielded part of the head; ventrals smooth, bicuspid; 50 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear; tibia as long as the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth slightly exceeds the distance between the end of the snout and the posterior border of the ear. 17 (or 15) femoral pores. Caudal scales a little larger than dorsals. Coloration: olive above; a black, light-edged collar; two light bands on the side of the neck, the upper from the eye and continuous with the anterior border of the collar, the lower commencing at the tip of the snout and passing through the ear; gular region and sides of belly blue; chin and middle of belly greenish-white. (Male above bluish-black; dorsal scales all with yellow centres.) [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. j. jarrovii |
USA (Arizona), Mexico (Zacatecas) |
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S. j. cyaneus |
Mexico |
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S. j. cyanostictus |
Mexico (Coahuila) |
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Considered a full species by some authorities. |
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S. j. erythrocyaneus |
Mexico (Queretaro) |
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S. j. immucronatus |
Mexico (Hidalgo, Durango, Tamaulipas) |
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S. j. lineolateralis |
Mexico? |
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S. j. oberon |
Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León) |
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S. j. sugillatus |
Mexico (Morelos) |
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Cape Arboreal Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (N Baja California) |
SVL 7½cm |
Small range. |
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Santa Catalina Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Isla Santa Catalina in Gulf of California off S Baja California) |
SVL 11½cm |
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Lundell's Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Campeche, Tabasco, Yucatán, Quintana Roo), Guatemala, Belize |
8½-9½cm(3-4")
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Lee calls this an uncommon species. It is arboreal, living in forests and forest edges and often seen on tree trunks at a height of 20m and above, as well as on cacti, fences and wooden buildings. Scalation details: dorsal scales (including those on limbs) are large and heavily keeled, whereas those on undersurfaces are smooth and smaller. 8-10 femoral pores on each thigh, more prominent in males. Coloration: overall grey: dorsal pattern may be present, consisting of irregular jagged dark brown or black transverse bars or spots reaching on to the tail. The forwardmost bar may form a narrow neck collar. A light bar is sometimes present between the eyes on top of the head. Northern populations (presumably S. l. gaigae) usually have a dark band on the posterior surface of the thigh, this band lacking in southern populations (presumably S. l. lundelli). Some individuals, especially those from the outer end of the peninsula, may lack a dorsal pattern and be uniform. Adult males have a pair of large blue patches ventrally which may join on the chest. Reproduction: uncertain but presumed by Lee to be a livebearer on account of its affinity with the S. malachiticus group [SOURCE: Lee]. |
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S. l. lundelli |
Mexico (S Campeche), Guatemala (Petén), Belize |
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S. l. gaigae |
Mexico (Campeche, Yucatán, N Quintana Roo) |
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MacDougall's Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Bahia, Oaxaca) |
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Ovoviparous species. |
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Spotted Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Durango) |
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Desert Spiny Lizard |
USA (California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila)
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For some pictures of the subspecies, go to the www.wildherps.com page (thanks to the latter for the common names of the subspecies). |
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S. m. magister |
Purple-Backed Spiny Lizard |
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S. m. bimaculosus |
Twin-Spotted Spiny Lizard |
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S. m. cephaloflavus |
Orange-Headed Spiny Lizard |
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S. m. montserratensis |
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S. m. transversus |
Barred Spiny Lizard |
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www.californiaherps.com has some pictures. |
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S. m. uniformis |
Yellow-Backed Spiny Lizard |
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www.californiaherps.com has some pictures. |
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Emerald Swift |
Mexico (Yucatán), Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama |
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Large-Scaled Spiny Lizard
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Mexico (Puebla, Veracruz) |
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Scalation details: 56-61 longitudinal dorsal rows; lateral dorsal scales larger than median dorsal scales; 15-17 femoral pores, the rows separated by 4-7 scales; basal subcaudals strongly keeled near distal end of tail. Coloration: middorsal double row of dark spots; sides of males are uniformly whitish or with general diffusion of pale blue. [SOURCE: Smith 1936] |
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S. m. megalepidurus |
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S. m. halli |
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S. m. pictus |
Max SVL 5½cm |
Originally considered a full species by Hobart M Smith (1936), now a subspecies of S. megalepidurus. Smith did notice the close relationship between the two forms and listed the differences in scalation. Scalation details: nasal separated from rostral; 1-2 canthals; frontal touches interparietal; frontoparietals undivided; 2 rows between supraoculars and supraciliaries, of which 1 complete and 1 incomplete; 45-56 longitudinal dorsal rows; midbody rows 47-52; lateral scales in oblique rows converging dorsally; 3-5 auricular lobules, of which upper usually shortest; 15-18 femoral pores on each side, the 2 rows separated medially by 3-4 scales; caudal scales approximately twice as large as median dorsal scales; ventral abdominal scales about half as large as median dorsal scales; subcaudal scales keeled except near base of tail. Coloration: overall dorsally grey- or brown-olive; broken clove-brown band on each side of body, bordered either side by narrow light line; limbs narrowly banded; dark spot in front of shoulder. Reproduction: males can be distinguished from females by (a) subcaudals more strongly keeled (b) preanal scales not smooth; dark blue areas on side of belly, black-bordered medially. [SOURCE: Smith 1936] |
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Pastel Tree Lizard
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Mexico and Guatemala |
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See entry at www.vivanatura.org, to which we acknowledge our debt for the distribution information. Scalation details: head-shields smooth; series of 4 transversely dilated supraoculars; 2 canthal scales; occipital broader than long, and as broad as parietals; anterior border of ear rather feebly denticulated; dorsal scales much larger than ventrals, keeled and ending in a strong point, not denticulated; 6 scales correspond to length of shielded part of head; 18-20 femorals; caudal scales smaller than dorsals; no enlarged postanal scales in males. Coloration: ochrous brown above, tinged with greenish on flanks; dorsal row of rhomboidal brown spots present or absent; end of snout, lips and side of neck dark brown; males with throat and sides of belly cobalt blue, chin black [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. m. melanorhinus |
Mexico (Oaxaca) |
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S. m. calligaster |
Mexico (Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, Michoacan, Guerrero) |
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S. m. stuarti |
Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala |
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(Merriam's) Canyon Lizard |
USA (Texas), Mexico (Coahuila)
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S. m. merriami |
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S. m. annulatus |
Merriam's Mountain Lizard |
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S. m. australis |
Southeastern Canyon Lizard |
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Scalation details: usually has smoth head scales (as per nominate subspecies); anterior half of frontal usually entire, labiomentals usually separated from 1st labial: dorsal scales from occiput to base of tail usually 50 or fewer. Coloration: tail bands evident ventrally (as per S. m. annulatus); gular bars usually separate posteriorly and usually poorly defined anteriorly [SOURCE: Williams, Smith & Chrapliwy]. |
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S. m. longipunctatus |
Presidio Canyon Lizard |
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Monserrat Island Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Baja California) |
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Southern Crevice Spiny Lizard
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Mexico (Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz) |
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Description: " Two rows of large supraocular scales. Dorsal scales strongly mucronate. Anterior collar border divided ; chin, throat and sides blue." [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. m. mucronatus |
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S. m. aureolus |
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S. m. omilternanus |
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Nelson's Spiny Lizard
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Mexico (Chihuahua, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora) |
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S. n. nelsoni |
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S. n. barrancorum |
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Northern Fence Swift |
USA (California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington)
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S. o. occidentalis |
Northwestern Fence Swift, Pacific Fence Lizard |
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S. o. becki |
Channel Island Fence Lizard |
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S. o. biseriatus |
Great Basin Fence Swift, Western Fence Lizard |
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S. o. bocourti |
Coast Range Fence Lizard |
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Description: scales of the auricular denticulation usually distinctly larger than those preceding. 36-43 transverse series of dorsal scales. Coloration: olive or brownish above, with four longitudinal series of dark brown spots ; the male's lower surfaces sometimes blackish, with the exception of the throat and the sides of the belly, which are blue; throat and sides of the belly constantly blue or blue-green in the female and young, a mode of coloration which, in other forms, is restricted to the male sex. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. o. longipes |
Great Basin Fence Lizard |
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S. o. taylori |
Yosemite Fence Lizard, Sierra Fence Lizard |
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Queretaran Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Guerrero, Morelos, Puebla) |
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Texas Spiny Lizard |
USA (Oklahoma, Texas), Mexico (Coahuila, Tamaulipas) |
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Granite Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Baja California) |
SVL 11½cm |
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Ornate Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Coahuila) |
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Scalation details: dorsal scales in about 64 transverse rows, with only slight carination, mucronation and denticulation; 12 femoral pores. Coloration: well-marked black cervical collar, complete above and edged with yellowish; coloration above dark green, nearly black towards median line, and with small yellowish spots on back. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. o. ornatus |
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S. o. caeruleus |
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S. palaciosi |
Palacios Bunchgrass Lizard |
Mexico (Morelos) |
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Considered a subspecies by some authorities. |
Bluebelly Lizard |
Mexico (Coahuila, Hidalgo) |
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S. p. parvus |
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S. p. scutulatus |
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Crevice Spiny Lizard, Red Scaly Lizard |
USA (S New Mexico east to C Texas), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila and W Nuevo León to S Durango) |
Max SVL 4½"/12cm, max TL 11½"/31cm- |
A comparatively stocky species found on boulders or rocks as well as on rock fences. Smith noted that in Texas and New Mexico it occurred in large numbers on limestone bluffs. Description: the largest supraoculars less dilated, forming two longitudinal series. Femoral pores 10-15. Coloration: black collar continuous across scapular region, and light-edged; the body and tail sometimes (specs, a-e) with broad blackish and narrower pale greenish cross bands. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. p. poinsettii |
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S. p. macrolepis |
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S. p. polylepis |
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S. p. robisoni |
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Boulder Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacan) |
SVL approx 6 cm |
Description: head-shields smooth; 1 canthal scale; a series of 5 transverse supraoculars; occipital large, much broader than long; parietals exceedingly small; scales of ear-fringe a little larger than those anterior to them. Dorsal scales much larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, unimuoronate, converging to the middle line, in about 25 transverse series from nape to crural region; lateral scales larger than abdominals; of the latter a portion only slightly emarginate. Femoral pores 12. Tail: much compressed. Coloration: greenish brown, with a broad black hand from the scapular region to the groin, light bordered above; below yellowish, sides bluish ash to near the median line, on each side of which is a series of from seven to nine transverse blue bars; upper labial and gular region striped with a series of black or bluish lines, which converge posteriorly on a paler or deeper yellow ground ; top of head bright chestnut-red or brown. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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Mexican Desert Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Baja California) |
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Salvin's Spiny Lizard |
Mexico |
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Coleman's Bunchgrass Lizard |
Mexico (Coahuila) |
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Bunchgrass Lizard |
Mexico (Aguascalientes, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Puebla, Zacatecas) |
TL approx 15 cm, SVL approx 6.5 cm |
Description: head-shields keeled or striated; a more or less regular series of transversely dilated supraoculars; two canthal scales; occipital as long as broad, or a little longer than broad; parietals very small; anterior border of ear very slightly denticulated. Dorsal scales larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, sharply pointed, forming parallel longitudinal series; 43-48 scales between the occipital and the base of the tail; 7-10 scales correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head; lateral scales nearly as large as dorsals, more or less distinctly keeled, forming straight longitudinal series; ventrals smooth, mostly bicuspid; 38-46 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the axilla or the shoulder in the female, between the shoulder and the ear in the male; tibia usually a little longer than the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth exceeds the distance between the end of the snout and the posterior border of the ear. 16-19 femoral pores on each side, the two series meeting medially. Caudal scales as large as or larger than dorsals. Male with enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: yellowish brown or olive above, with four regular series of large crescentic brown spots, the series separated by more or less well-defined light longitudinal lines; head with symmetrical dark-brown markings; a black or deep-blue spot in front of the arm; lower surfaces yellowish white, the throat frequently with oblique blackish lines converging posteriorly; an elongate deep-blue patch on each side of the belly in the male. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. s. scalaris |
Mountain Lizard |
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S. s. brownorum |
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S. s. unicanthalis |
Smith's Bunchgrass Lizard |
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Blue-Spotted Spiny Lizard |
USA (Texas). Mexico (Chiapas, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, E San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Yucatan), Guatemala |
TL approx 16.5 cm, SVL approx 7 cm |
See notes on intergrades between the subspecies in the Catalogue of Life entry. and in Lee (populations at base of Yucatán are said to be intermediates between S. s. serrifer and other subspecies). The species generally inhabits tropical lowlands. Lee describes it as "moderately common" in the Yucatán. Description: Head-shields smooth; a series of 5 very large transversely dilated supraoculars, bordered internally by an incomplete series of minute scales; 2 canthal scales ; occipital nearly as long as broad, much larger than the parietals; anterior border of ear with a denticulation formed by 6 pointed scales, which are scarcely as large as those preceding. Dorsal scales larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, and ending in a long spine; on the posterior part of the back the scales slightly converge towards the vertebral line; 35 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail; 10 scales correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head lateral scales keeled, directed obliquely upwards and backwards, nearly as large as dorsals; ventrals smooth, distinctly bicuspid; 42 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches between the ear and the orbit; tibia as long as the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth equals the distance between the nostril and the arm. 10-11 (9) femoral pores. Caudal scales like the dorsals. Coloration: olive above, brown-spotted; a dark brown collar, interrupted in the middle. " Throat and sides of male blue, the latter broadly black-bordered behind and medially." Reproduction: probably livebearer. In Guatemala, new-borns have been observed in mid May before the onset of summer rains. [SOURCES: Boulenger, Lee] |
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S. s. serrifer |
Eastern Blue Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Yucatán) |
8-9cm SVL; tail 1.6 x SVL |
In Yucatán, found in forest habitats and also on sides of buildings, rock walls and Mayan ruins. Description: head broad, distinct from neck, somewhat depressed; body moderately short, stocky; limbs short, robust. Scalation details: dorsal scales large, imbricate and strongly keeled; ventral scales smaller, imbricate, smooth. Coloration: dorsally yellowish tan or grey with about 4 indistinct, irregular dark brown transverse bars, bordered posteriorly by light blue or grey; distinct black or dark brown collar, narrow on side of neck, broadest in middorsal area, bordered by light blue or grey; head dorsally dark brown or black with large white, yellow or bluish spots; tail dorsally has alternating dark and light bands; limbs indistinctly banded with dark and light markings; ventrally immaculate bluish grey or tan in females, males having indistinct bluish patches. [SOURCE: Lee] |
S. s. cyanogenys |
Blue Spiny Lizard |
USA (S Texas), Mexico (Tamaulipas, Nuevo León) |
TL 5-14¼"/12½-32cm; max SVL 5¾"/14¾cm |
Now considered by some authorities (eg TIGR database) to be a full species. Similar to S. s. serrifer. In the USA this is the largest and bluest of the spiny lizards [Conant & Collins]. Found on or among boulders, rocky or earthen cliffs, stone bridges and abandoned houses. Scalation details: head scales keeled or ridged (flat and smooth in serrifer), lacks complete row of small scales separating median head shields from supraoculars (present in serrifer), 31-38 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe (more in plioporus), femoral pores 16-22 (greater in plioporus). Coloration: both sexes have dark band across neck, bordered in white, with light spots on nape and back. Tail markings on tip are not conspicuous. Males are brilliant greenish blue over overall brown, with entire throat bright blue and large light blue patch on each side of belly, bordered by black band on inner side. Females and young males are grey or brown. [SOURCES: Conant & Collins 1998, Martin 1952]. |
S. s. plioporus |
Smith's Blue Spiny Lizard, West Gulf Rough-Scaled Lizard |
E Mexico (S Tamaulipas southwards along Gulf coast), Guatemala |
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S. s. prezygus |
Chiapan Blue Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Chiapas) |
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Coloration: adults lack light borders on collar; whole neck tends to be suffused with black; dorsals have black streaking on the keels. In life the iris is orange. |
Longtail Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Chiapas, Guerrero, Morelos, Oaxaca), Guatemala |
TL approx 15.5 cm, SVL 5.5 cm |
Description: head-shields keeled or striated; 2 canthal scales; a series of 4-5 large transverse supraoculars; occipital a little broader than long; parietals much smaller, two on each side; anterior border of ear very slightly denticulated. Lateral cervical fold forming a deep pouch. Dorsal scales much larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, sharply pointed, forming 9-10 parallel longitudinal series ; 32-38 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail; 7-8 scales correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head; lateral scales smaller, as large as ventrals, keeled, directed obliquely upwards; ventrals smooth, pointed, not emarginate; 44-46 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the ear or the eye; tibia longer than the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth equals the distance between the end of the snout and the cervical pouch. 4-5 (3-7) femoral pores. Caudal scales as large as, or a little smaller than dorsals. No enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: olive-brown above, with coppery gloss, sides darker; a yellowish dorso-lateral line frequently separates the dorsal from the lateral surfaces: a series of oblique blackish cross-lines along each side of the back ; lower surfaces uniform yellowish in both sexes. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. s. siniferus |
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S. s. cupreus |
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Slevin's Bunchgrass Lizard |
USA (Arizona), Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora) |
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Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala |
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Smith's Rosebelly Lizard |
Mexico (Oaxaca) |
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Formerly considered a subspecies of S. variabilis. Known only from rocky habitats in the vicinity of Tehuantepec. Coloration: white or yellow dorsolateral stripe running from rear edge of eye well onto tail, very prominent posteriorly, usually 2-2½ scale rows wide at hind legs. [SOURCE: Sites and Dixon] |
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Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Aguascalientes, Coahuila, Durango, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacan, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Zacatecas) |
TL 24 cm, SVL 10.5 cm |
Description: head-shields smooth; a series of 3-4 large transversely dilated supraoculars; 2 canthal scales; occipital as long as broad, broader than the parietals, which are rather large; anterior border of ear with a strong denticulation formed of 4-5 pointed scales, the two upper of which are usually larger than those preceding. I)orsal scales much larger than ventrals, as broad as long, strongly keeled and mucronate, distinctly denticulated, forming parallel longitudinal series; 28-30 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail; 5-6 (7 in the young, owing to the proportionally larger head) correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head ; lateral scales keeled, directed obliquely upwards and backwards, graduating into the dorsals and ventrals; latter smooth, bicuspid; 36-38 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the shoulder or the ear; tibia, in the adult, longer than the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth exceeds the distance between the end of the snout and the posterior border of the ear. 7-10 femoral pores. Caudal scales as large as or a little smaller than dorsals. Male with enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: pale olive or yellowish-brown above, with dark brown transverse spots, and a more or less distinct, broad, lighter dorso lateral band; head frequently with fine brown transverse lines across its upper surface and others radiating from the eye; lower surfaces whitish, throat longitudinally streaked with grey or blackish; male with a black antehunieral spot usually connected with its fellow on the throat; the whole or part of the gular region, and the sides of the abdomen, blue; pectoral region and median ventral zone whitish. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. s. spinosus |
Spiny Lizard |
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S. s. apicalis |
Oaxacan Spiny Lizard |
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S. s. caeruleopunctatus |
Blue-Spotted Spiny Lizard |
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Mexican Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala, Nicaragua |
TL approx 15 cm, SVL approx 4.5 cm |
Description [for S. fulvus, subsequently recognised as a synonym of S. squamosus]: head-shields keeled or striated; 1 canthal scale; a series of 4-5 large transverse supraoculars; occipital as long as broad; parietals much smaller, 2 on each side ; anterior border of ear very slightly denticulated. Lateral cervical fold forming a deep pouch. Dorsal scales much larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, sharply pointed, forming eight parallel longitudinal series; 30-32 scales between the occipital and the base of the tail; 7-8 scales correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head; lateral scales smaller, slightly larger than ventrals, keeled, directed obliquely upwards; ventrals obtusely keeled, pointed, not emarginate; 38-40 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the eye; tibia longer than the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth equals the distance between the end of the snout and the cervical pouch. 3-4 (or 5) femoral pores. Tail long; caudal scales nearly as large as dorsals. No enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: fulvous above, sides dark brown; a yellow dorso-lateral band separating the dorsal from the lateral surfaces; a more or less distinct series of oblique dark-brown spots along each side of the back; lower surfaces uniform yellowish in both sexes. Boulenger recorded S. squamosus as differing from S. fulvus in Differs from S. siniferus and fulvus by the presence, in the male, of enlarged postanal scales; by the absence of a keel on the ventral scales; lower surfaces, in both sexes, yellowish, dotted all over with grey. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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Stejneger's Blackcollar Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Guerrero) |
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Tolucan Bunchgrass Spiny Lizard |
Mexico |
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Paintbelly Spiny Lizard |
Mexico |
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Guatemalan Emerald Spiny Lizard |
Guatemala
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S. t. taeniocnemis |
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S. t. hartwegi |
Hartweg's Emerald Spiny Lizard |
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Tanner's Spiny Lizard |
Mexico |
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Teapen Rosebelly Lizard |
Mexico (Campeche, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Veracruz), Guatemala, Belize |
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Occurs in relatively open savanna habitats. Scalation details: 38-50 dorsal longitudinal rows, averaging 45; ventral longitudinal rows, average 45; subdigital lamellae on longest toes of both hind feet, average 40. Coloration: dorsolateral light stripe, seldom extending onto tail, boldest in males, usually equal to or less than 1-2½ scale rows wide at hind legs. [SOURCE: Sites and Dixon] |
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Crevice Swift |
Mexico (Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacan, Morelos, Nayarit, Puebla, Valparaiso, Veracruz, Zacatecas) |
TL approx 21 cm, SVL approx 9 cm |
Description: head-shields smooth; a series of 4-5 transversely dilated supraoculars, bordered internally by a series of moderate-sized scales; usually 2 canthal scales; occipital as long as broad, much larger than the parietals, which are sometimes divided in 2 pairs; anterior border of ear with a strong denticulation formed by 3-4 pointed scales, which are as large as or a little larger than those preceding. Dorsal scales much larger than ventrals, as broad as long, moderately keeled, with more or less distinctly denticulated posterior border, not or only shortly mucronate, forming parallel longitudinal series; 27-34 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail; 5-7 scales, taken in the middle of the back, correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head; lateral scales keeled, directed obliquely upwards and backwards, as large as or slightly smaller than the dorsals; ventrals smooth, entire, or bi- or tricuspid; 38-42 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the cervical fold or the ear; tibia as long as the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth equals or slightly exceeds the distance between the end of the snout and the ear. 15-20 femoral pores on each side. Caudal scales about as large as dorsals, strongly mucronate. Male with large postanal scales. Coloration: olive above, uniform or black-spotted; a broad, black, yellow-edged band from shoulder to shoulder; lower surfaces whitish or greenish in the females, throat and breast spotted with blackish; males with the throat and the sides of the belly cobalt-blue; the breast and median ventral zone black or whitish. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. t. torquatus |
Plateau Crevice Swift |
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S. t. binocularis |
Nuevo León Crevice Swift |
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S. t. madrensis |
Sierra Madre Crevice Swift |
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S. t. melanogaster |
Blackbelly Crevice Swift |
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Description: supraoculars as in the nominate species. Dorsal scales strongly mucronate and denticulated; 27 scales from the occipital to the base of the tail, and 34 round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches the shoulder. 18 femoral pores. Coloration: greenish bronzy above; collar (a continuation of the black of the throat) reduced to a short oblique band in front of the arm, separated from its fellow by five rows of scales; thorax, middle of belly, and groin, black; throat and sides of belly blue. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. t. mikeprestoni |
Preston's Crevice Swift |
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Eastern Fence Swift |
USA (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango)
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TL 15.5 cm, SVL 7 cm |
See note in the Catalogue of Life entry on the validity or otherwise of the subspecies. Description: head-shields smooth or rugose; a series of 4-5 large transversely dilated supraoculars; 2 canthal scales; occipital as long as broad, or a little longer than broad, larger than the parietals; anterior border of ear with a denticulation of pointed scales not larger than those preceding. Dorsal scales much larger than ventrals, strongly keeled, more or less strongly mucronate, entire, tricuspid, or very indistinctly denticulated, forming parallel longitudinal series; 33-40 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail; 7-9 (exceptionally 6) scales correspond to the length of the shielded part of the head; lateral scales keeled, directed obliquely upwards and backwards, nearly as large as dorsals; ventrals smooth, bicuspid: 38-50 scales round the middle of the body. The adpressed hind limb reaches between the cervical fold and the orbit; tibia as long as, or longer than, the shielded part of the head; the distance between the base of the fifth toe and the extremity of the fourth exceeds the distance between the end of the snout and the posterior border of the ear. 13-17 femoral pores. Caudal scales as large as or a little larger than dorsals. Male with enlarged postanal scales. Coloration: greyish, brownish, or olive above, usually with undulating dark brown bands across the back and fine lines across the head; sometimes a more or less distinct lighter dorso-lateral band. Lower surfaces yellowish-white in the female, often spotted with brown or with a brown median ventral line, and a bluish spot on each side of the throat. Male with the throat and the sides of the belly blue, edged with black, the pectoral and median ventral regions yellowish; the throat sometimes nearly entirely black, the blue reduced to a round spot on each side. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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S. u. undulatus |
Southern Fence Lizard |
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S. u. belli |
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S. u. cowlesi |
Cowles Prairie Lizard |
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S. u. elongatus |
Northern Plateau Lizard |
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S. u. erythrocheilus |
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S. u. garmani |
Northern Prairie Lizard |
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S. u. hyacinthinus |
Northern Fence Lizard |
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S. u. speari |
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S. u. tedbrowni |
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S. u. tristichus |
Southern Plateau Lizard |
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Cope's Largescale Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Colima, Guerrero, Sinaloa) |
TL 21 cm, SVL approx 7 cm |
Description: head-shields keeled or striated; 2 canthal scales; a series of 5-6 large transverse supraoculars; occipital as long as broad; parietals very small; anterior border of ear very slightly denticulated. Sides of neck strongly plicate, minutely granular. 10 longitudinal rows of large, highly keeled, shortly mucronate dorsal scales, separated by many lateral series of minute flat scales from the smaller entire-edged ventrals; 40 scales between the occipital shield and the base of the tail; 10 dorsal scales correspond to the length of the head. Tibia longer than the shielded part of the head. 13-14 femoral pores. Tail long. Coloration: general colour blackish above, with numerous indistinct lighter cross bars; or light brown with a double longitudinal series of transverse black spots and a yellow dorso-lateral band; yellowish or greenish inferiorly. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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Southern Mountain Lizard |
Mexico (Baja California) |
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Rosebelly Spiny Lizard |
USA (Texas), Mexico (Chiapas, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Queretaro, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Yucatan), Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua |
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Scalation details: dorsal longitudinal rows usually 50-60, average 56; ventral longitudinal rows average 57; subdigital lamellae on longest toes of both hind feet usually >43. Coloration: dorsolateral light stripe, seldom extending onto tail, boldest in males, usually equal to or less than 1-2½ scale rows wide at hind legs. [SOURCE: Sites and Dixon] |
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S. v. variabilis |
Mexican Rosebellied Lizard |
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S. v. marmoratus |
Texan Rose-Bellied Lizard, Northern Rosebelly Lizard |
USA (SE Texas), Mexico |
3½-5½"/9¼-14cm, max SVL 2¼"/5½cm |
This is a species of rather dry regions. It is easily distinguished from other US and Canadian lizards by its pink belly patches and the skin pocket behind the thigh. Mainly terrestrial, often seen on fence posts and in cactus clumps, but also sometimes on rocks or in scrubby trees such as mesquite. Scalation details: 58-69 dorsal scales from back of head to base of tail [usually 54-72 per Sites & Dixon], usually >60 and averaging 63; ventral scales average 56; 10-14 femoral pores. Coloration: overall buff- to olive-brown; light dorsolateral stripe, 1½-2 scales wide; row of 9-10 brown spots down each side of back. Males have large area of pink on each side of belly, bordered anteriorly and posteriorly and towards the centre of the belly by dark blue. This dark colour extends upwards to form a prominent dark spot in the armpit and a much smaller one in the groin. Ventrally cream or white. Reproduction: oviparous. Average clutch size of 4 eggs, laid beneath rotten logs or at the base of small trees. Young are about 2"/5cm on hatching [SOURCE: Conant, Smith, Sites & Dixon] |
S. v. olloporus |
Southern Rosebelly Lizard |
C & E Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica |
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Striped Plateau Lizard |
USA (Arizona), Mexico (Sonora) |
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Florida Scrub Lizard, Scrub Pine Lizard |
USA (Florida) |
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Baja California Spiny Lizard, San Lucan Spiny Lizard |
Mexico (Baja California) |
SVL 13cm |
Scalation details: parietals wider than occipital, which is not wider than long; auricular scales much longer than those adjacent; femoral pores >10. Coloration: male; above bright olivaceous, with reddish longitudinal dorsolateral band crossed medially by numerous indistinct brown bars, often obsolete; under surfaces and sides of tail yellowish; anterior face of femur, groin, large spot anterior to brachium, broad band connecting latter with former, and latter of each side, across posterior gular region, black, shading into blue on sides and throat; chin light green; brachium black anteriorly. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, R Conant and J T Collins, Peterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin, Boston/New York 1998.
Swifts and Spiny Lizards, Ray Hunziker, TFH 1997. Until recently this was the only dedicated care guide (at least in English) of Sceloporus and the South American Liolaemus, although it by no means covered all the species but rather a selected few most likely to turn up in the pet trade. While I cannot vouch for the usefulness or accuracy of the care information given therein, having never kept any of these lizards, this did not seem too bad for a TFH volume.
Green Iguanas and other Iguanids, Dr Hubert Bosch and Heiko Werning, TFH 1996 (originally published in German, 1991, as Leguane). See Iguanid page for recommendation of this book.
Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California, Grismer, L Lee Grismer, University of California Press, 2002. Impressive guide to the herpetofauna of the region.
"Turtles and Lizards from Northern Mexico", Kenneth L Williams, Hobart M Smith and Peter S Chrapliwy, Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science, Vol 53, Nos. 1 and 2, 1960. Gives details of S. m. australis as a new subspecies, as well as range records of other reptiles in SE Chihuahua, SW Coahuila and NE Durango.
"A New Lizard of the Genus Sceloporus from Southern Mexico", Hobart M Smith, American Museum Novitates Number 892, November 3 1936. Describes S. pictus (now considered S. megalepidurus pictus).
"A New Subspecies of the Iguanid Lizard Sceloporus serrifer from Tamaulipas, Mexico", Paul S Martin, Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, October 22 1952. Gives details of subspecies S. serrifer cariniceps, later to become S. s. cyanogenys.
"Notulae Herpetologicae Chaipasiase IV", Hobart M Smith and Miguel álvarez del Toro, Herpetologica Vol 19 No 2, July 3 1963.
"Geographic Variation in Sceloporus variabilis, and Its Relationship to S. teapensis (Sauria: Iguanidae)", Jack W Sites Jr and James R Dixon, Copeia 1982(1).
"Descriptions of two new Scelopori," J Paul Jones, Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan Number 186, June 30 1927. Gives details of S. cozumalae and S. schmidti: the latter was later synonymised with S. smaragdinus.
I have not read the following, but they would appear to be useful for a more in-depth look at the genus or individual species:
"Taxonomy and Biogeography of the Sceloporus magister complex (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) in Baja California, Mexico", Herpetologica 52(3):416-427, Grismer, L L and J A McGurie. 1996.
Stachelleguane. Lebensweise - Pflege - Zucht, Gunther Köhler and Peter Heimes, Herpeton Verlag 2002. At least one of the authors has been publishing books on the herpetology of Central America for a few years, and Köhler is also a veterinarian. The drawback for most English speakers is that the text is in German.
Catalogue of Life on Sceloporus (compiled from EMBL reptile database)
Herpetological Education & Research Project (H.E.R.P) common names for iguanid lizard species
San Diego Natural History Museum's Checklist of Reptiles of Baja California.
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