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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| Scientific classification |
Sceloporus merriami, commonly known as the canyon lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to the south-western United States and northern Mexico.
Contents
Etymology
The specific name, merriami, is in honor of American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam.
Geographic range
S. merriami is found in the United States in the state of Texas, and it is found in Mexico in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, and Nuevo León.
Description
Adults of S. merriami may reach 58 mm (2.2 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL). Including the tail, they may reach 162 mm (6.4 in) in total length. The dorsal scales are small, and the lateral scales are granular.
Dorsally, the canyon lizard is gray, tan, or reddish-brown, matching the rocks on which it lives. There are four rows of dark spots on the back, and a vertical black line in front of the front leg. Males have blue and black lines on the throat.
Subspecies
The seven recognized subspecies of S. merriami, including the nominotypical subspecies, are:
- Sceloporus merriami annulatus H.M. Smith, 1937 – Big Bend canyon lizard
- Sceloporus merriami australis K.L. Williams, H.M. Smith & Chrapliwy, 1960 – southeastern canyon lizard
- Sceloporus merriami ballingeri Lemos-Espinal, H.M. Smith, Auth & Chiszar, 2001 – Ballinger's canyon lizard
- Sceloporus merriami longipunctatus Olson, 1973 – Presidio canyon lizard
- Sceloporus merriami merriami Stejneger, 1904 – Merriam's canyon lizard
- Sceloporus merriami sanojae Lemos-Espinal & Chiszar, 2003 – Sanoja's canyon lizard
- Sceloporus merriami williamsi Lemos-Espinal, Chiszar & H.M. Smith, 2000 – Williams' canyon lizard
