Showing posts with label western fence lizard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label western fence lizard. Show all posts

Wednesday, 20 December 2000

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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