Western Fence Lizard

Sceloporus occidentalis

Reptiles & AmphibiansIn the app

Known for having large, overlapping, and pointed scales on back and limbs. Color can vary but is usually black, brown or gray with wavy dark and light bands across back.…

How to identify

Known for having large, overlapping, and pointed scales on back and limbs. Color can vary but is usually black, brown or gray with wavy dark and light bands across back. Thigh rear is yellow or orange and exhibits mostly keeled scales. Snout-vent length up to 3.9 inches (9.9 cm). Tail can completely detach when being threatened and allow lizard to escape. When breeding, males exhibit a blue patch on the throat, a blue black-edged patch on either side of the belly, two enlarged scales behind vent, and two swollen copulatory organs below tail base. Mating occurs in spring, and eggs are laid from April to July. Clutch size ranges from 3 to 17 depending on female's size, elevation, and latitude.

Range

As far north as Washington and southeastern Idaho; south through Oregon, Nevada, western Utah, and Baja, California.

Habitat

Found on the ground or low perches in grassland, woodland, sagebrush, rocky canyons, open coniferous forests, and talus slopes. Does not inhabit severe deserts, but can be found near the deserts on mountain slopes. Commonly seen in suburban dwellings on basking sites like fences, woodpiles, and walls. Typically feed on insects including flies, beetles, ants, spiders, and caterpillars. During the winter, they are generally inactive.

Variations

Contains many subspecies including the Island Fence Lizard, or *Sceloporus occidentalis becki*, found only off the southern California coast in the Channel Islands, and the Great Basin Fence Lizard, or *Sceloporus occidentalis longipes*, which usually are black in color.

Similar species

Northern Sagebrush Lizard - Sceloporus graciosus graciosus Western Sagebrush Lizard - Sceloporus graciosus gracilis Southern Sagebrush Lizard - Sceloporus graciosus vandenburgianus