Granite spiny lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Granite spiny lizard |
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| Sceloporus orcutti | |
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The granite spiny lizard (scientific name: Sceloporus orcutti) is a type of lizard. It belongs to the Phrynosomatidae family, which includes many spiny lizards. This lizard is known for its bright colors and how it likes to perch on rocks.
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What's in a Name?
The second part of the lizard's scientific name, orcutti, is a tribute to an American naturalist named Charles Russell Orcutt. He lived from 1864 to 1929. Mr. Orcutt was the one who first found and collected a sample of this lizard in San Diego County, California.
Where Do They Live?
The granite spiny lizard is found only in certain areas. It lives in southern California in the United States. You can also find it in Baja California, which is a part of Mexico. This means it is endemic to these regions.
What Do They Look Like?
This lizard can grow to be about 7.6 to 10.8 centimeters (3 to 4.3 inches) long, measured from its snout to the base of its tail. When you include its tail, the longest they get is about 28.9 centimeters (11.4 inches).
Its back scales are rough and pointed, especially on its body and tail. It has a wide purple stripe running down the middle of its back.
- Males have yellow-green and blue scales on their bodies. They also have deep-blue patches on their chest and throat.
- Females and young lizards have clear yellow-tan stripes that go across their body and tail.
Behavior and Habitat
The granite spiny lizard is a very colorful animal. You can often spot them sitting on top of large rocks from far away. They mostly live on rocky hillsides and in areas with many rock outcrops. This is where they find shelter and hunt for food.
Reproduction
Granite spiny lizards lay eggs. This means that the mother lizard lays eggs, and the baby lizards hatch from these eggs outside her body.
