Girish Mahajan (Editor)

California rock lizard

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Suborder
  
Lacertilia

Family
  
Phrynosomatidae

Phylum
  
Chordata

Order
  
Scaled reptiles

Class
  
Reptilia

Infraorder
  
Iguania

Scientific name
  
Petrosaurus

Rank
  
Genus

California rock lizard wwwcaliforniaherpscomlizardsimagespmearnsisd5

Similar
  
Baja blue rock lizard, Banded rock lizard, Urosaurus, Zebra‑tailed lizard, Phrynosomatinae

The California rock lizards are a genus (Petrosaurus) of New World lizards in the family Phrynosomatidae.

Contents

Geographic range

They are endemic to southern California and Baja California, Mexico.

Habitat

This type of lizard lives almost exclusively on rock outcrops, boulder piles, and canyon walls, where it shelters under rocks. The habitat is arid and semiarid foothills and canyons along the western margin of the Colorado Desert.

Reproduction

The courtship begins shortly after emergence in early spring. The eggs are laid around June and July.

Predators

The few predators that could pursue this lizard are collared lizards and avian predators, such as hawks, ravens, and roadrunners.

Species

The genus Petrosaurus contains three species.

  • Petrosaurus mearnsi (Stejneger, 1894) - banded rock lizard
  • Petrosaurus repens (Van Denburgh, 1895)
  • Petrosaurus thalassinus (Cope, 1863) - Baja blue rock lizard
  • References

    California rock lizard Wikipedia