Description: The granite spiny lizard is 3.0 to 4.3 inches snout-to-vent length (SVL). Maximum total length including the tail is 11.4 inches. Its dorsal scales are strongly keeled and pointed on its body and tail. It has a wide purple mid-dorsal stripe. The males of the species have yellow-green and blue-centered scales on the body; juveniles and females have distinct yellow-tan transverse bands on their body and tail. Additionally, the male has deep-blue ventral patches on its chest and throat and femoral pores.

Habitat: This lizard inhabits granite outcrops in chaparral and on oak-covered slopes on the coastal side of the mountains in southern California; it also ranges into yellow pine habitat. On the desert side, it occurs in rocky canyons and on rocks of upper alluvial slopes with chaparral, palms, or mesquite. Habitats in Baja California include pinyon-juniper woodland and subtropical thornforest. This species generally is associated with rocks, but in some locations it also climbs into vegetation (e.g., agaves, palms, willows) or occurs on the ground among shrubs.

Range: S. orcutti is native to southern California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico.

Found in these States: CA

Diet: Eats insects, lizards, and occasionally buds and fleshy fruits.

Reproduction: S. orcutti is oviparous. Probably it buries its eggs in the soil.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Taxonomy: