Petrosaurus mearnsi

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Petrosaurus mearnsi
Petrosaurus mearnsi.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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]
  • Uta mearnsi
    Stejneger, 1894
  • Streptosaurus mearnsi
    Mittleman, 1942
  • Petrosaurus mearnsi
    Stebbins, 1985

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.

Contents

Etymology

The specific name, mearnsi, is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens. [3] [4]

Geographic range

Petrosaurus mearnsi is endemic to extreme southern California and Baja California, Mexico. [5] It also occurs on Isla El Muerto. [1]

Description

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]

Habitat

Petrosaurus mearnsi is associated with boulder hillsides, [6] extending in Baja California to chaparral and pinyon-juniper woodlands. [1]

Diet

Petrosaurus mearnsi is omnivorous, feeding not only on insects and spiders, but also on buds and flowers. [7]

Reproduction

Gravid females of Petrosaurus mearnsi lay eggs from June through August. Clutch size varies from 2 to 6 eggs. [7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hollingsworth, B.; Hammerson, G.A. (2007). "Petrosaurus mearnsi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2007: e.T64067A12741153. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64067A12741153.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Petrosaurus mearnsi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 7 June 2016.
  3. Beltz, Ellin (2006). Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America – Explained. ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html.
  4. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Petrosaurus mearnsi, p. 174).
  5. Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN   0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Streptosaurus mearnsi, pp. 110–111).
  6. 1 2 Fisher, Robert N.; Case, Ted J. "Petrosaurus mearnsi — Banded Rock Lizard". A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  7. 1 2 Stebbins RC (2003). A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series®. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin. xiii + 533 pp. ISBN   0-395-98272-3 (paperback). (Petrosaurus mearnsi, pp. 298–299 + Plate 32 + Map 100).

Sources

Further reading