Sceloporus grammicus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sceloporus grammicus |
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| A male Sceloporus grammicus lizard | |
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The Sceloporus grammicus is a type of lizard found in Mexico and the southern United States. People sometimes call it the mesquite lizard or the graphic spiny lizard. These lizards are known for their unique patterns and their ability to live in different environments. They are a fascinating part of the reptile world.
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Where Does It Live?
The Sceloporus grammicus lizard makes its home in the southern United States, mainly in Texas. It also lives across many states in Mexico. These include Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas, Coahuila, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Querétaro, and Aguascalientes. They can be found in various habitats, from forests to rocky areas.
What Does It Look Like?
The Sceloporus grammicus is a flat-bodied lizard. Its tail is a bit longer than its head and body combined. Adult lizards usually grow to be about 10 to 17.5 centimeters (4 to 7 inches) long in total.
Their backs are often a mix of olive green or gray colors. They have a pattern of 3 to 6 dark stripes across their body. Their front legs and tail also have thin stripes.
Male and female lizards look a bit different. Males have cool blue patches on their throats and sides of their bellies. These blue patches sometimes have black borders. Males also have a dark line on each shoulder.
Reproduction
The Sceloporus grammicus lizard is special because it is viviparous. This means the mother gives birth to live young, instead of laying eggs. The number of babies born at one time can be anywhere from 2 to 12. Female lizards are ready to have babies when they reach a certain size, usually between 34 and 74 millimeters (about 1.3 to 2.9 inches) from their snout to their vent (the opening on their underside).
Different Types of Mesquite Lizards
There are four known types, or subspecies, of Sceloporus grammicus. These different types are:
- Sceloporus grammicus disparilis — also called the mesquite graphic lizard.
- Sceloporus grammicus grammicus — known as the southern mesquite lizard.
- Sceloporus grammicus microlepidotus — called the northern mesquite lizard.
- Sceloporus grammicus tamaulipensis — known as the Tamaulipas mesquite lizard.
See also
In Spanish: Chintete para niños
