The plateau fence lizard (''Sceloporus tristichus'') is a species of
spiny lizard in the family
Phrynosomatidae.
Description
At up to from
snout to vent
A snout is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw. In many animals, the structure is called a muzzle, rostrum, or proboscis. The wet furless surface around the nostrils of the nose of many mammals is c ...
,
the plateau fence lizard is a grayish, brownish, or greenish lizard. The upper side of its body has
keeled scales and there is a series of narrow dark brown cross-bands on both sides of the midline. An elongated metallic blue patch can be found on each side of the belly and each side of the throat.
Males are typically smaller than females with males and females in
Montezuma County
Montezuma County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,849. The county seat is Cortez.
Mesa Verde National Park, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Yucca House National Monu ...
measuring and , respectively.
Distribution
The plateau fence lizard is generally found in central
Arizona, southwestern
Utah, western
Colorado, and the
San Luis Valley
The San Luis Valley is a region in south-central Colorado with a small portion overlapping into New Mexico. The valley is approximately long and wide, extending from the Continental Divide on the northwest rim into New Mexico on the south. It co ...
.
It can also be found in parts of
New Mexico and
Wyoming.
Habitat
The plateau fence lizard generally dwells in rocky and wooded areas,
making use of canyon walls, boulder-strewn hillsides, fallen tree trunks, and other debris and vantage points.
Ecology
The plateau fence lizard is inactive during cold periods and the hottest part of the day in summer.
The lizard consumes mainly insects, spiders, and other arthropods.
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q11838797
Lizards of North America
Sceloporus
Reptiles of the United States
Reptiles described in 1875
Taxa named by Edward Drinker Cope