Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus)

Adult Size: 5" to 6¼"

Description: A spiny lizard. Granular scales do not overlap on the rear of the thigh. Coloration is grayish-green to brown with some darker spots and crossbars. Faint light dorsolateral stripes. The sides are reddish-orange behind the forelegs. Males usually have light-blue mottling (not patches) on the throat and darker blue underside patches. Females have pinkish orange on the sides and neck.

Habitat: Primarily areas of sagebrush and gravelly soils or fine sand dunes. Never far from shelter such as stony piles, crevices, and animal burrows.

Breeding: Single clutch of 2 to 7 eggs are laid in June to July and hatch in July to August.

Range: Southern Montana to northwestern New Mexico and west to Washington, Oregon, California, and Baja California.

Diet: Insect make up the bulk of its diet.

Behavior: Diurnal. Primarily terrestrial, these lizards occasionally climb trees or bushes in pursuit of prey

Video

Conservation Status:

Additonal Notes:

Subspecies: Three in our range.

Northern Sagebrush Lizard (S.g. graciosus) - with blue patches that do not meet across the underside and no not meet the blue of the throat. Found in Washington to Montana, south to New Mexico. Photo...

Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (S.g. arenicolus) - text Photo...

Southern Sagebrush Lizard (S.g. vandenburghianus) - text Photo...