Peterson Field Guides, 2003, C. Michael Hogan (2008) "Western fence lizard (, "Refractoriness of the Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) to the Lyme Disease Group Spirochete Borrelia bissettii", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Western_fence_lizard&oldid=987760650, Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 November 2020, at 02:22. They are diurnal reptiles and are commonly seen sunning on paths, rocks, and fence posts, and other high places, which makes them easy prey for birds and even some mammals, such as shrews. [3][4], Studies have shown Lyme disease is lower in areas where the lizards occur. [2] Most literature, however, still place the phrynosomatids in Iguanidae. Reptile - Lizard: Texas Spiny Lizard - Duration: 3:12. sirwildlife 14,321 views. Although California is the heart of the range of this lizard, it is also found in eastern and southwestern Oregon (some populations are found even north of Seattle, Washington), as well as in the Columbia River Gorge, southwestern Idaho, Nevada, western Utah, northwestern Baja California, Arizona, and some of the islands off the coast of both California and Baja California. They can change color from light grey or tan to nearly jet black, but they probably use this ability for the purpose of thermoregulation while basking and not as a means to camouflage themselves. Western fence lizards mate in the spring and during this time males are very territorial and defend their home ranges. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable. They are found in grassland, broken chaparral, sagebrush, woodland, coniferous forest, and farmland. The western fence lizard occupies a variety of habitats. ... eastern fence lizard and green anole cage set up - Duration: 2:20. uhh Reptiles 2,961 views. [3] The sagebrush lizard, S. graciosus, lacks yellow limbs and has smaller dorsal scales. 3rd ed. The ventral sides of the limbs are yellow. [7], Stebbins, Robert C. "A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians." They generally avoid the harsh desert and are often found near water. The Western fence lizard is a quite common lizard found in the western United States and northwestern Mexico. These lizards occupy a variety of habitats. [5] They can change color from light grey or tan to nearly jet black, but they probably use this ability for the purpose of thermoregulation while basking and not as a means to camouflage themselves. [4] They are brown to black in color (the brown may be sandy or greenish) and have black stripes on their backs, but their most distinguishing characteristic is their bright blue bellies. These lizards are diurnal, and are commonly seen sunning on paths, rocks, and fence posts, and other high places, which makes them an easy target for predation by birds and even some mammals, such as shrews. S. occidentalis belongs in the order Squamata (snakes and lizards) and the suborder Iguania. Females lay 1-3 clutches of 3 to 17 eggs between April and July. Young Western fence lizards usually do not breed until the spring of their second year. [3] S. occidentalis also resembles the side-blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana. During the mating season, adult males will defend a home range. LENGTH. [1], Western fence lizards measure 5.7–8.9 cm (snout-vent length)[3] and a total length of about 21 cm. The western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is a common lizard of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Northern Mexico, and the surrounding area. Western Fence Lizard on The IUCN Red List site -, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_fence_lizard, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/64131/12747877. It is brown to black in color (the brown may be sandy or greenish) and has black stripes on its back, but its most distinguishing characteristic is its bright blue belly. [3], Many other lizards have similar bright-blue coloring. However, the axilla of U. stansburiana usually has a black spot behind it and it has a complete gular fold. Like most other lizards, S. occidentalis goes through a period of brumation during the winter. [3], Although California is the heart of the range of this lizard, it is also found in eastern and southwestern Oregon (some populations are found even north of Seattle, Washington), as well as in the Columbia River Gorge, southwestern Idaho, Nevada, western Utah, northwestern Baja California, Arizona, and some of the islands off the coast of both California and Baja California. Females have patterns of black horizontal stripes on their backs, while males have patches of bright blue scales on their bellies and throats. These lizards also have blue patches on their throats.