The Phrynosomatidae are a diverse family of lizards, sometimes classified as a subfamily (Phrynosomatinae), found from Panama to the extreme south of Canada. Many members of the group are adapted to life in hot, sandy deserts, although the spiny lizards prefer rocky deserts or even relatively moist forest edges, and the short-horned lizard lives in prairie or sagebrush environments. The group includes both egg-laying and viviparous species, with the latter being more common in species living at high elevations.
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 common lizard of Arizona, New Mexico, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Northern Mexico, and the surrounding area. As the ventral abdomen of an adult is characteristically blue, it is also known as the blue-belly.
Sceloporus magister, also known as the desert spiny lizard, is a lizard species of the family Phrynosomatidae, native to the Chihuahuan Desert and Sonoran Desert of North America.
Sceloporus aurantius, the southern occidental bunchgrass lizard, is a species of phrynosomatid lizard native to Mexico. It was discovered by University of Washington biologists in May 2014 upon isolating gene pools from those of Sceloporus brownorum.
Slevin's bunchgrass lizard is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is indigenous to the southwestern United States and adjacent northern Mexico.
Sceloporus bicanthalis, the trans volcanic bunchgrass lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae, first described by Hobart Muir Smith as a subspecies of Sceloporus aeneus in 1937. It is endemic to Mexico. It was classified by the IUCN as a species with low risk. No subspecies are recognized.
Sceloporus scalaris, the light-bellied bunch grass lizard, is a species of small, phrynosomatid lizard.
Sceloporus aeneus, the southern bunchgrass lizard or black-bellied bunchgrass lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico.
Sceloporus chaneyi, the Peña Nevada agave lizard, Chaney's spiny lizard, or Chaney's bunchgrass lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico.
Sceloporus druckercolini, also known commonly as the graceful mountain tree lizard and lagartija elegante arborícola de montaña in Mexican Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
Sceloporus dugesii, also known commonly as Dugès' spiny lizard and la lagartija espinosa de Dugès del este in Mexican Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
Sceloporus exsul, the Queretaran desert lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico.
Sceloporus lemosespinali, Lemos-Espinal's spiny lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico.
Sceloporus licki, the Cape arboreal spiny lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to the Sierra de la Laguna on the southern Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
Sceloporus lundelli, Lundell's spiny lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is found in Mexico and Belize.
Sceloporus mikeprestoni, Preston's torquate lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico.
Sceloporus samcolemani, also known commonly as Coleman's bunchgrass lizard, Coleman's bunch grass lizard, and lagartija de Coleman in Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
Sceloporus torquatus, the crevice swift, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae.
Sceloporus teapensis, the Teapen rosebelly lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is found in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize.
