Petrosaurus mearnsi | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
Genus: | Petrosaurus |
Species: | P. mearnsi |
Binomial name | |
Petrosaurus mearnsi (Stejneger, 1894) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
Petrosaurus mearnsi, also called commonly the banded rock lizard and Mearns' rock lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. [2] The species is native to western North America.
The specific name, mearnsi, is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens. [3] [4]
Petrosaurus mearnsi is endemic to extreme southern California and Baja California, Mexico. [5] It also occurs on Isla El Muerto. [1]
Petrosaurus mearnsi is an extremely flat-bodied lizard. Its dorsum is olive, brown or gray, with white or bluish spots. It has a single black collar, a banded tail, and granular scales on its body, with keeled tail and limb scales. Individuals may have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 6.2–8.7 cm (2.4–3.4 in). Males have more pronounced throat patterns and brighter blue coloring than females. [6]
Petrosaurus mearnsi is associated with boulder hillsides, [6] extending in Baja California to chaparral and pinyon-juniper woodlands. [1]
Petrosaurus mearnsi is omnivorous, feeding not only on insects and spiders, but also on buds and flowers. [7]
Gravid females of Petrosaurus mearnsi lay eggs from June through August. Clutch size varies from 2 to 6 eggs. [7]