| Range: |
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| Other Names: |
Common Sagebrush Lizard |
| Subspecies: |
Northern Sagebrush Lizard Sceloporus graciosus graciosus |
| Description: |
A small (up to 76 mm or 3" from snout to vent), gray-brown to orange-brown lizard with pointed, keeled scales and four rows of dark, irregular shaped blotches on the back. The blotches in each row often merge together forming a dark, wavy stripe. A broad, gray mid-dorsal stripe extends from the neck onto the base of the tail. A rust or orange patch is often present in each "armpit" area and a dark bar marks each shoulder. The throat is either plain or marked with a uniform blue-gray mottling, often accompanied by pink flecking. Males have two large, blue patches on the belly. Belly patches are often edged with black. On females the belly patches are faint or lacking. During breeding season females may develop a yellow tint on the belly and orange-red suffusions on the neck and sides. |
| Similar Species: |
Its uniform throat pattern distinguishes this lizard from the similar looking Plateau Fence Lizard and Southwestern Fence Lizard. Its lack of side-blotches distinguishes it from the Plateau Side-blotched Lizard and Speckled Earless Lizard. |
| Venom: |
None |
| Habitat: |
A wide variety of biotic communities including Great Basin Desertscrub, Great Basin Conifer Woodland, Petran Montane Conifer Forest, and Petran Subalpine Conifer Forest are home to this lizard. It can be encountered on open, flat, grassy plains and plateaus, wooded foothills, rocky canyons, and on steep forested slopes. It is usually encountered in relatively open, sunlit areas with plenty of basking sites. |
| Behavior: |
This diurnal lizard is most active from mid morning through early afternoon. It is usually encountered on the ground in the vicinity of cover but it occasionally climbs onto rocks, tree trunks, fence posts, and wood piles to bask. |
| Hibernation: |
It hibernates during the cold months of fall and winter. |
| Reproduction: |
Mating takes place in May and June. One to two clutches of eggs are laid in June and July. Clutch size ranges from 2 to 10 eggs. Incubation lasts from 44 to 52 days and hatchlings begin to emerge as early as July. |
| Diet: |
The Common Sagebrush Lizard feeds on a variety of insects including ants, beetles, termites, true bugs, and grasshoppers. It also eats a variety of spiders and scorpions. |
Adapted from account at reptilesofaz.org
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