Canyon lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canyon lizard |
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| A male Big Bend canyon lizard (S. m. annulatus) near Big Bend NP, Texas | |
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The canyon lizard (scientific name: Sceloporus merriami) is a type of lizard. It belongs to the Phrynosomatidae family. You can find these lizards in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
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Why is it called the Canyon Lizard?
The scientific name for this lizard is merriami. This name honors an American zoologist named Clinton Hart Merriam. A zoologist is a scientist who studies animals.
Where do Canyon Lizards Live?
Canyon lizards live in the United States in Texas. They also live in Mexico. In Mexico, you can find them in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, and Nuevo León.
What do Canyon Lizards Look Like?
Adult canyon lizards can grow to about 5.8 cm (2.2 in) long. This measurement is from their snout to their vent (the opening at the end of their body). If you include their tail, they can be up to 16.2 cm (6.4 in) long.
Their scales on their back are small. The scales on their sides feel like tiny grains.
Canyon lizards can be gray, tan, or reddish-brown. This helps them blend in with the rocks where they live. They have four rows of dark spots on their back. There is also a black line in front of each front leg. Male canyon lizards have cool blue and black lines on their throats.
Different Types of Canyon Lizards
There are seven different types of canyon lizards. These are called subspecies. Each subspecies is a slightly different version of the main species.
Some of these subspecies include:
- Sceloporus merriami annulatus – This one is known as the Big Bend canyon lizard.
- Sceloporus merriami merriami – This is Merriam's canyon lizard.
- Sceloporus merriami williamsi – This one is named Williams' canyon lizard.
