Common Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)

Adult Size: 4½" to 6¼"

Description: It has a fold across the throat and a band of small scales separate 2 bands of abruptly larger scales down the middle of the back. A divided frontal scales. The tail is less than twice the head and body length. Coloration is brown to gray with dark crossbands and blotches. Males have bright blue underside patches and blue to yellow-orange throat patches.

Habitat: Trees, rocks, fence posts, and buildings in arid regions; often near streams and dry washes.

Breeding: Up to 6 clutches of 3 to 13 eggs are laid in April to September. The hatchlings appear in July to October, according to range.

Range: Extreme southwestern Wyoming, southeast to south-central Texas and west to extreme southeastern California.

Diet: It feeds on insects, spiders, and centipedes.

Behavior: Diurnal. This lizard is often found in pairs or groups. Shy and wary, it is adept at hiding by agilely keeping a tree trunk or brnach between itself and a pursuer. It is commonly encountered on the morning and late afternoon foraging for prey.

Video

Conservation Status:

Additonal Notes:

Subspecies: Eight with only 6 in our range.

Eastern Tree Lizard (U.o. orantus) - inner series of enlarged back scales twice the width of the outer series. Found in central and southern Texas and adjacent Mexico. Photo...

Canyon Tree Lizard (U.o. levis) - 3 to 4 rows of enlarged back scales. Found in north-central New Mexico. Photo...

Lined Tree Lizard (U.o. linearis) - bands of enlarged back scales separated by less than the width of the enlarged band. Found in central and southeastern Arizona to central New Mexico and into Mexico. Photo...

Big Bend Tree Lizard (U.o. schmidti) - irregular rows of enlarged back scales with the inner series less than twice the width of the outer series; belly patches are separate. Found in the Big Bend region of Texas (west of the Pecos River) to extreme southeastern New Mexico. Photo...

Colorado Tree Lizard (U.o. symmetricus) - bands of enlarged back scales separated by more than the width of the enlarged band; the belly patches seprate. Found in extreme southeastern Nevada and California to western Arizona and northern Mexico. Photo...

Northern Tree Lizard (U.o. wrighti) - enlarged back scales in 3 to 4 rows and the belly patches are connected. Found in extreme southwestern Wyoming to northern New Mexico and Arizona. Photo...