Sagebrush lizard

The Sagebrush lizard is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus) is a common lizard found in mid to high latitudes in the Western United States of America. It belongs to the genus Sceloporus (spiny lizards) in the Phrynosomatidae family of reptiles. More

Sagebrush lizards are not only common on the INL, but can be found throughout most of the western United States. Although they are common, sagebrush lizards can be hard to spot, and for good reason. More

sagebrush lizard has highly keeled and spiny scales running along its back. It is a small cousin of the Western fence lizard, another Sceloporus species found in the Western U.S. More

Southern Sagebrush Lizard has no specific common name and is simply referred to as a lagartija. More

Dorsal view - Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus, on the left, Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, on the right. Note the larger dorsal scales on the Fence Lizard. More

General DescriptionThe body of the sagebrush lizard is small and narrow. The back is covered with small spiny, keeled scales, and usually has a pale dorsolateral stripe on each side; scales on the rear of the thigh are very small and often granular. More

Sagebrush lizards occur in the southwestern United States and in Baja California, Mexico. HABITAT These lizards live among sagebrush and other shrubs, as well as in mesquite and creosote trees, in otherwise open desert areas. More

Sagebrush lizards were my only reptilian companions in this High Sierra camp, but at least they were plentiful. The big adults have some orange on their sides, which distinguishes them from Western Fence Lizards. More

Head view - Sagebrush Lizard on the left, Fence Lizard on the right. More

This article is titled Southern sagebrush lizard, but is really an article about the three distinct varieties of sagebrush lizard (i.e. it also discusses the Northern and Western sagebrush lizard). More

As their name implies, Sagebrush Lizards are predominately found in sagebrush cover, but they can also be found in greasewood and other desert shrubs and sometimes on small rocky outcrops. More

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. REPRODUCTION: Mating takes place in May and June. More

A sagebrush lizard basking in the sun Scientific name: Sceloporus graciosus graciosus Identification * Only lizard in Yellowstone. More

The Sagebrush Lizard is from the order Squamata. Species from this order are amphisbaenians, lizards or snakes. There are over 6,000 living species belonging to the squamata order - it is the largest order of all reptiles. More

Sagebrush Lizards will eat a variety of feeder insects. Like all lizards, make sure the insects are gut-loaded and dusted with a calcium and/or multi-vitamin supplement. Feed them crickets, mealworms, silkworms, butterworms, etc. More

The Southern Sagebrush lizard lives in Southern California, but the Western and Northern Sagebrush variations are found in our area with the Northern occurring east of the Cascade Mountains and the Western Sagebrush living only in southwest Oregon. More

on the dunes sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus arenicolus, in New Mexico. Unpublished report, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Contract 80-516.6-01. * Painter et al. More

The northern sagebrush lizard appears to have a historic range similar to its present range, although slightly smaller. More

The Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus) is a common lizard found in mid to high latitudes in the Western United States of America. More

The sagebrush lizard has a long blue patch on each side of its belly and is sometimes referred to as the blue-bellied lizard, though the rest of its body is gray or brown. Short-horned lizards have wide, flat bodies with short legs and tails. More

Common names

graciosus: Northern Sagebrush Lizard in English - English
Lagartija-escamosa de Artemisa in Spanish - español
sagebrush lizard in English - English
Sceloporus graciosus in French - français
Tsʼahgi naʼachǫ́ʼii in Navajo - Diné bizaad