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Sceloporus orcutti

Granite spiny lizard
Sceloporus orcutti.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Iguanidae
Subfamily: Phrynosomatinae
Genus: Sceloporus
Species: S. orcutti
Binomial name
Sceloporus orcutti
Stejneger, 1893

The granite spiny lizard (Sceloporus orcutti) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard.

The epithet, orcutti, honors American naturalist Charles Russell Orcutt (1864–1929), who collected the type specimen in San Diego County, California.

It is endemic to southern California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico.

The granite spiny lizard is 7.6–10.8 cm (3.0–4.3 in) snout-to-vent length. Maximum total length including the tail is 28.9 cm (11.4 in). Its dorsal scales are strongly keeled and pointed on its body and tail. It has a wide purple mid-dorsal stripe. The males of the species have yellow-green and blue-centered scales on the body; juveniles and females have distinct yellow-tan transverse bands on their body and tail. Additionally, the male has deep-blue ventral patches on its chest and throat and femoral pores.

The granite spiny lizard is a colorful species that can be observed perched atop boulders from considerable distance. This species is primarily associated with rocky hillsides and outcrops. They have been known to try to mate with other members of their sex.


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Wikipedia

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