Clark's Spiny Lizard

Range

Central and southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Range also extends south along the western coast of Mexico.

Habitats

Found in a wide variety of habitats within its range, including scrublands, grasslands, woodlands, chaparral, and mountain slopes. It's an excellent climber and often found scaling tree trunks or rock faces.

Identification

Stocky lizard with keeled, overlapping scales all over. Mostly grey-brown with flecks of turquoise scattered over its dorsum. It has an incomplete black collar around the underside of its neck, and black bands on the front legs. Males have vibrant blue accents on the throat, underside of tail, and on each side of their ventral abdomen with a central stripe of black or tan between. Brow ridges above each eye are prominent. Its long toes have yellow bands of color. It grows up to 5.6 inches from snout to vent.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians