| Sceloporus becki | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Sceloporus |
| Species: | S. becki |
| Binomial name | |
| Sceloporus becki Van Denburgh, 1905 | |
| Synonyms | |
Sceloporus occidentalis beckiCrowther, 2000 | |
Sceloporus becki, also known as the island fence lizard, [1] is a species of lizard endemic to the Channel Islands of California. [2] [3]
It was once considered a subspecies of the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), but is now considered to be its own species. Many authorities have accepted research concluding that the island fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis becki) is its own unique species. However, there is some discrepancy between the current classification of the species and emerging findings, thus the taxonomy of the entire Sceloporus occidentalis species could be revised in the future.
Despite it being a distinct subspecies, it shares a physically similar appearance as various mainland sub-species of the western fence lizard, a very common lizard in California.
The island fence lizard is a relatively small species characterized by keeled and pointed dorsal scales of uniform size across the back, sides, and belly. The scales on the thighs are mostly keeled and noticeably smaller, while the rear of the limbs is colored yellow or orange. A distinctive blue coloration is present on the sides of the belly. The lizard's overall coloration varies between brown, gray, or black with blotches, and it may have light markings forming stripes or irregular lines along the sides of the back. In some cases, dark blotching creates irregular bands. The belly is pale in color. Males are distinguished by blue markings on the sides of the belly, bordered in black, a black patch on the throat, enlarged postanal scales, and a swollen tail base. When exposed to light, some of the dorsal scales may exhibit a blue or greenish tint. In contrast, females show faint or absent blue belly markings, no blue or green coloration on their upper surfaces, and display dark bars or crescents on their backs. Juveniles typically lack blue throat markings and may have faint or no blue coloration on the belly. Due to the distinct vivid blue coloration on the abdomen of adult males of the species, this species is sometimes referred to as the “blue belly lizard”.
These lizards are most active when temperatures are warm, and are often inactive during extreme thermal conditions. However, the moderate and consistent temperatures of the channel islands usually allow for year long activity. They are often seen in sunny areas, such as stream banks, beach driftwood, grassy hillsides, and human settlements. They are frequently seen basking on rocks, logs, fences, and walls.
Males typically establish territory on elevated perches in order to observe potential mates or rivals. Males defend their territory through physical combat, and try to attract females through displays of head-bobbing and pushups to show off blue throat and ventral colors.
Island fence lizards portray common behaviors of tail detachment and regeneration, being able to easily detach their tail to flee from predators. The detach tail squirms to distract a predator, allowing time for the lizard’s body to escape.
Adult island fence lizards mate in spring of their second year. Females lay between one and three clutches of eggs, with each clutch containing three to seventeen eggs, from April through July. The eggs take roughly 60 days to hatch, occurring between July and September. Eggs have a white leathery shell and typically measure 8 by 14 mm. Females lay there eggs in small pits of loose damp soil (usually during the night).
The specific epithet, becki, is in honor of Rollo Howard Beck, an American ornithologist who collected the first specimens. [4] [5]
Spiny lizards is a common name for the genus Sceloporus in the family Phrynosomatidae. The genus is endemic to North America, with various species ranging from New York, to Washington, and one occurring as far south as northern Panama. The greatest diversity is found in Mexico. This genus includes some of the most commonly seen lizards in the United States. Other common names for lizards in this genus include fence lizards, scaly lizards, bunchgrass lizards, and swifts.
The western fence lizard is a species of lizard native to Arizona, New Mexico, and California, as well as Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Northern Mexico. The species is widely found in its native range and is considered common, often being seen in yards, or as the name implies, on fences. As the ventral abdomen of an adult is characteristically blue, it is also known as the blue-belly. Two western fence lizards have been reported with duplicated or forked tails, presumably following an autotomy.
The common side-blotched lizard is a species of side-blotched lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to dry regions of the western United States and northern Mexico. It is notable for having a unique form of polymorphism wherein each of the three different male morphs utilizes a different strategy in acquiring mates. The three morphs compete against each other following a pattern of rock paper scissors, where one morph has advantages over another but is outcompeted by the third.
Sceloporus poinsettii, the crevice spiny lizard, is a species of small, phrynosomatid lizard.
The eastern fence lizard is a medium-sized species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is found along forest edges, rock piles, and rotting logs or stumps in the eastern United States. It is sometimes referred to as the prairie lizard, fence swift, gray lizard, gravid lizard, northern fence lizard or pine lizard. It is also referred to colloquially as the horn-billed lizard. One of its most notable behaviors is that of its escape behavior when encountering fire ants, which have been known to invade and negatively affect many of their populations.
The granite spiny lizard is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae.
The sagebrush lizard or sagebrush swift is a common species of phrynosomatid lizard found at mid to high altitudes in the western United States. It belongs to the genus Sceloporus in the Phrynosomatidae family of reptiles. Named after the sagebrush plants near which it is commonly found, the sagebrush lizard has keeled and spiny scales running along its dorsal surface.
Crotaphytus reticulatus, commonly called the reticulate collared lizard, is a species of moderately sized lizard in the family Crotaphytidae. The species is native to semiarid, rocky regions of the Tamaulipan mezquital. Its range includes the US state of Texas and the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas. Of all the species in the family Crotaphytidae, C. reticulatus is the only species which is not restricted to rocky habitats.
Sceloporus merriami annulatus, commonly known as the Big Bend canyon lizard, is a subspecies of the canyon lizard, and is endemic to southwestern Texas and adjacent northeastern Mexico.
The Mojave fringe-toed lizard is a species of medium-sized, white or grayish, black-spotted diurnal lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is adapted to arid climates and is most commonly found in sand dunes within the Mojave Desert. Fringe-toed lizards are characterized by their fringed scales on their hind toes which make locomotion in loose sand possible.
Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii, commonly known as the Coast Range fence lizard, is a subspecies of Sceloporus occidentalis, the Western fence lizard.
Sceloporus occidentalis taylori is a subspecies of the western fence lizard, commonly called the Sierra fence lizard. Several subspecies of the western fence lizard, a species of phrynosomatid lizard, are found in the far western part of North America. The subspecific epithet, taylori, is in honor of American herpetologist Edward Harrison Taylor.
Sceloporus uniformis, also known as the yellow-backed spiny lizard, is a reptile of the family Phrynosomatidae. It is native to the Mojave and Great Basin deserts. Until recently, it was considered to be a subspecies of Sceloporus magister.
Sceloporus jarrovii, also known commonly as Yarrow's spiny lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. There are two recognized subspecies.
The plateau fence lizard is a species of spiny lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae.
Sceloporus virgatus, commonly known as the striped plateau lizard, is a species of lizard within the genus Sceloporus. This genus is known for the signaling modalities that it uses and exhibits, including visual motion and chemical signals that aid in identifying their territories as well as color that indicates aggression. The striped plateau lizard originates from the northern Sierra Madre Occidental and is relatively small in size, measuring less than 72 mm (2.8 in) in length.
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