Family: Phrynosomatidae, Earless and Horned Lizards view all from this family
Description 6-9 1/4" (15.2-23.5 cm). Spiny; scales on back of thigh abruptly smaller. Scales on back same size as those on sides and belly. Olive, brownish, or black, with pattern of paired blotches or wavy crossbars down back and occasionally some striping. Undersurfaces of legs yellowish-orange. Blue patches on sides of belly; adult male has blue patch on throat.
Subspecies Northwestern Fence Lizard (S. o. occidentalis), 2 blue throat patches often with light-blue connecting band, belly light; c. Washington to c. California.
Island Fence Lizard (S. o. becki), black throat patch; only on Channel Islands off coast of s. California.
San Joaquin Fence Lizard (S. o. biseriatus), 1 blue throat patch; belly gray or black with blue patches; only in lower San Joaquin Valley, California.
Coast Range Fence Lizard (S. o. bocourtii), throat patches small in males, absent in females; from San Mateo to Santa Barbara County, California.
Great Basin Fence Lizard (S. o. longipes), 1 large blue throat patch in males, belly gray to black with blue patches; c. Oregon and extreme se. Washington to c. Idaho south through e. California, Nevada, and w. Utah, also c. California south along coast into n. Baja California.
Sierra Fence Lizard (S. o. taylori), entire belly and throat blue in adult males; in Sierra Nevada of California, usually above 7,000' (2,100 m).
Breeding Mates early spring. Single clutch of 3-14 eggs, laid May to July, hatches July to September.
Habitat Rocky and mixed forest areas from sea level to above 9,000' (2,700 m). Adapts to wide variety of conditions but not to desert. Frequents stone fences, fence posts, old buildings.
Range C. Idaho south through Nevada and west to the Pacific coast.
Discussion Diurnal. Easily encountered; may be observed even in midwinter on mild days. Commonly called the blue-belly, it is often seen displaying to attract females or drive off male intruders; it bobs its head and flattens its sides, showing off the blue patches.
