turtles lizards snakes
frogs
Reptiles of the United States  
  Home Email Site map
A Guide to the Reptiles &
Amphibians of the United States
Home snakes lizards Turtles turtles salamanders
Snakes of the U.S.
UDG-Banner (55K)
 



Merriam's Canyon Lizard Range Map






Merriam's Canyon Lizard Video




Merriam's Canyon Lizard Juvenile

Home »» Lizards »» Phrynosomatidae (North American Spiny Lizards) »» Canyon Lizards »» Merriam's Canyon Lizard (Sceloporus merriami merriami)


Merriam's Canyon Lizard (Sceloporus merriami merriami)Species of Least Concern





Description: Adults of S. merriami may reach 2.2 inches snout-to-vent length (SVL). Including the tail, they may reach 6.4 inches in total length. The dorsal scales are small, and the lateral scales are granular. Dorsally, the canyon lizard is gray, tan, or reddish-brown, matching the rocks on which it lives. There are four rows of dark spots on the back, and a vertical black line in front of the front leg. Males have blue and black lines on the throat.


Habitat: Habitats include canyon walls and rocky slopes with sparse vegetation. The lizard generally occupies steep rock faces and takes shelter in crevices. Eggs are buried beneath soil surface.


Range: S. merriami are found in the United States in the state of Texas, and it is found in Mexico in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, and Nuevo León.


Found in these States: TX


Diet: Eats insects and other small arthropods.


Reproduction: Lays 2 clutches averaging 4.5 eggs each, the first in May-June and the second in July to August. Eggs hatch in 30 to 40 days. Sexually mature in one year.


Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of the stable extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, high abundance within suitable habitat, and absence of major threats. Populations fluctuate with environmental conditions.


Taxonomy:

»» Kingdom: Animalia - Animals
   »» Phylum: Chordata - Chordates
     »» Subphylum: Vertebrata - Vertebrates
       »» Class: Reptilia - Reptiles
         »» Order: Squamata - Lizards
           »» Family: Phrynosomatidae - North American Spiny Lizards
             »» Genus: Sceloporus
               »» Species: Sceloporus merriami - Canyon Lizard
                 »» Subspecies: Sceloporus merriami merriami - Merriam's Canyon Lizard

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sceloporus merriami", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Content may have been omitted from the original, but no content has been changed or extended.

 

 

 

 


Recommended Books at Amazon.com


Handbook of Lizards: Lizards of the United States and of Canada     Lizards of the World: A Guide to Every Family     Texas Lizards: A Field Guide     National Geographic Readers: Lizards



DISCLAIMER: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.

 

 
 

Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 
Copyright © 2008 - Herpedia™.com