Kingdom Animalia Class Reptilia Suborder Iguania Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Phrynosomatidae People also search for Sceloporus tanneri | |
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The bunch grass lizard (Sceloporus scalaris) is a species of small, phrynosomatid lizard.
Contents
Taxonomy
Currently, Sceloporus scalaris belongs in the scalaris group with a fluctuating number of other species. In 2010, Wiens et al. recognized the following species: Sceloporus aeneus, S. bicanthalis, S.chaneyi, S.goldmani, S. scalaris, and S. subniger while others such as Bryson et al. 2011 recognize: Sceloporus aeneus, S. bicanthalis, S.chaneyi, S.goldmani, S. samcolemani, S. scalaris, and S. slevini
Distribution
S. scalaris is widely distributed in Mexico, expanding northward from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt to the southern United States of Arizona and New Mexico. The species is typically found in high elevation grasslands (1500 - 3000 m).
Description
Bunch grass lizards are typically grey in color, often with orange and yellow coloration around the neck and behind the forelimbs. Males will have more of this vibrant coloration on their underside while female undersides tend to be white. Adults range from 52-62 mm snout-to-vent length (Ortega and Barbault, 1986).
Reproduction
Many species of Sceloporus are ovoviviparous including the scalaris species. Juveniles are seen for the first time in late August (Ortega and Barbault, 1986).