Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)

OTHER NAMES: Blue-belly
Latin Etymology: Sceloporus ("leg pore") occidentalis (of the West)

Adult Western Fence Lizard (subspecies S. o. bocourtii) at Roy's Redwoods, California - Septmember 2022

Featured Subspecies: Coast Range fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii)
Weight: 11g  /  Length: 21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The ubiquitous lizard species of the Bay Area, and as the name suggests, found in a huge range including much of the West, they are a species that adapts well to many habitats. Despite the drab upper body of the individuals I saw, they also possess a bright blue underside to varying degree between individuals, and some populations even are bright blue and turquoise all over.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Sceloporus
SUBSPECIES: S. o. biseriatus, S. o. bocourtii, S. o. longipes, S. o. occidentalis, S. o. taylori

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
A common resident of the West Coast.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in virtally all locations.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Emerald Swift (Sceloporus malachiticus)

OTHER NAMES: Green Spiny Lizard
Latin Etymology:  Sceloporus ("leg pore") malachiticus ("malachite green")

Adult male Emerald Swift (Sceloporus malachiticus) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: ?  /  Length: 15-20cm  
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

A small and distinctively thorny looking lizard that specialises in upland elevations and in Costa Rica can be found at 2500m in cloud forests where they seemed to favour basking on rocky outcrops as well as man made habitats. They are found in the exotic pet trade but this isn't considered a major threat to them currently.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Squamata
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Sceloporus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
A common inhabitant of high elevations
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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