Family Phrynosomatidae Scientific name Sceloporus poinsettii Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Suborder Iguania Genus Sceloporus | |
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Similar Spiny lizard, Reptile, Texas spiny lizard, Sceloporus magister, Phrynosomatinae | ||
The crevice spiny lizard (Sceloporus poinsettii ) is a species of small, phrynosomatid lizard.
Contents
Etymology
The epithet, poinsettii, is in honor of American physician, botanist, and statesman, Joel Roberts Poinsett.
Geographic range
S. poinsettii is endemic to the Chihuahuan Desert, in the US states of Texas and New Mexico, and in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango.
Description
The crevice spiny lizard is typically grey in color, but sometimes can have a ruddy red-brown appearance with a black and white collar around the neck region. The underside is typically light grey, but males often have blue patches on either side of their bellies. The tail typically has black banding. Their scales have a distinctly spiny texture. They can grow to 11.8 cm (4.6 in) snout-to-vent length, and 31.1 cm (12.2 inches) total length.
Behavior
Crevice spiny lizards are typically shy and nervous, fleeing up a rock face or into a crevice if approached. They prefer semi-arid habitats, often of limestone rock, where there are numerous holes and easily accessible cracks.
Diet
Crevice spiny lizards are insectivorous, consuming a wide variety of spiders, beetles, and other insects, but they will sometimes also consume tender vegetation.
Reproduction
S. poinsetti is one of the several species of Sceloporus that are ovoviviparous. Breeding occurs in the spring, and a litter of up to 11 young are born in midsummer.
Subspecies
Five subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies
