National Park Service Klamath Network Featured Creature U.S. Department of the Interior

Natural Resource Stewardship & Science Klamath Network Sagebrush Lizard July 2016 Sceloporus graciosus

Field Notes Distinguishing the sagebrush lizard from its Life History common cousin, the western fence lizard Sagebrush lizards emerge from hibernation (Sceloporus occidentalis) can be tricky. Both in the spring. They lay a clutch of 2–7 eggs species have blue belly patches and are between May and July, buried in loose soil similar in size, but the sagebrush lizard has underneath shrubs. The young hatch 45–75 smaller and finer scales, and males have a days later. Most females produce 2 clutches less distinct blue patch on the throat. It per year. lacks the yellow coloring seen on the back of the western fence lizard’s legs, and Fun Facts typically occurs at higher elevations than its —Being ectotherms, lizards get their heat cousin. from external sources, like sunlight and Sagebrush lizard. Photo courtesy Steve warm rocks. The skin color for many, Harbula, Creative Commons. including the sagebrush lizard, is darker when cold and lightens up with increasing General Description heat. Often found scampering around in sagebrush habitat, the aptly named —To save its life, the sagebrush lizard can sagebrush lizard is a common inhabitant of lose its tail to an attacker, a behavior known the arid West. Members of the genus as autotomy. The predator is temporarily Sceloporus are also known as the “spiny” distracted by a thrashing—and edible— lizards for the ridged and “spiny” scales on body part, which gives the lizard time to their backs. The sagebrush lizard is active Common sagebrush lizard (left) basking next escape. The lizard can grow the tail back, during the day (diurnal), and reaches 15 cm to western fence lizard (right). Photo but the original vertebrae are replaced by a courtesy Gary Nafis, californiaherps.com. (6 in) from its snout to the tip of its tail. rod of cartilage. Habitat and Diet Identification Where to See The sagebrush lizard occurs throughout the The sagebrush lizard’s gray or tan back You can find sagebrush lizards in most of western United States at elevations of 150 sports a lighter stripe down the center and the Klamath Network parks, including to 3200 m (500 to 10,500 ft). The best place on both sides. The “armpit” area often Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake, Lava Beds, to find these lizards is in sagebrush cover, reveals a rust or orange patch, and a dark and Whiskeytown. although they also inhabit other types of bar may be present on the shoulder. When shrublands, and even openly wooded References and Further Reading pregnant, the adult female’s neck and sides pinyon-juniper or forest. Nimble climbers can be tinted yellow or orange. Bright blue http://www.californiaherps.com/ and jumpers, they live on the ground, near patches on the sides of the adult male’s bushes, logs, rocks or brush piles. These Encyclopedia of Life: belly, along with lighter blue streaking on features provide basking surfaces as well as http://eol.org/pages/790737/details#physica his throat are displayed to females during cover. Sagebrush lizards are also known to l_description courtship. seek shelter in rodent burrows. NatureServe Explorer: They eat a variety of invertebrates, http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/Natu including ants, beetles, flies, spiders, mites, reServe?searchSciOrCommonName=sagebr ush+lizard&x=0&y=0 ticks, and bees. Conversely, sagebrush

lizards are eaten by snakes, such as the The Reptile Database: striped whipsnake and night snake, as well http://reptile- as birds and other predators. database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Scelo Male sagebrush lizard. Photo: Erika Nowak. porus&species=graciosus

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM June 29, 2016