Western Fence Lizard

Photo from USFWS

The western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) can be found in Southern California, Nevada, and parts of Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Mexico. They are also known as a Blue-Belly Lizards because adults have blue sides to their abdomens.

Western fence lizards have pointy, overlapping scales--these scales can help distinguish between western fence lizards and sagebrush lizards. Western Fence lizards scales are much more spiny looking than sagebrush lizards, with spines on their backs and limbs and on the posterior of their legs, which sagebrush lizards do not. Western fence lizards tend to be tan-dark brown in color with wavy black lines or spots. They can shift their color slightly from darker to lighter based on their surroundings and to absorb more heat from the sun. As mentioned above, they have blue on their abdomens. The blue patches tend to be much more prominent on adult male lizards than on females and juveniles. They typically eat insects and spiders, but have been known to eat small lizards as well.

Sources and more information:
http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/bio/reptile/lacer/scoc/scocfram.htm
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Ruby_Lake/Western_Fence_Lizard.htm

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