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 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.
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.
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 dixoni is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It was split from Sceloporus subniger in 2021. It is endemic to the western half of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt between Morelia, Michoacán, and the lower slopes of the Nevado de Colima in Jalisco. It is named in honor of James R. Dixon who worked extensively on Mexican herpetofauna.
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 goldmani, also known commonly as Goldman's bunchgrass lizard and la lagartija de pastizal de Goldman in Mexican Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
Sceloporus hesperus is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It was split from Sceloporus subniger in 2021. It is endemic to Sierra de Mascota in Jalisco, in the far western end of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The specific name hesperus, from the Greek hesperos meaning "western", refers to this aspects its distribution.
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 mikeprestoni, Preston's torquate lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico.
Sceloporus nelsoni, Nelson's spiny lizard or southern Nelson's lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico. This species contains 2 further subspecies, Sceloporus nelsoni barrancarum and Sceloporus nelsoni nelsoni.
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.
