Side-blotched lizard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Side-blotched lizards
Male common side-blotched lizard Uta stansburiana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Phrynosomatidae
Genus:	Uta Baird & Girard, 1852
Species
Several, see text

Side-blotched lizards are small lizards found in the deserts of western North America. They are very common and easy to spot. These lizards are known for their interesting breeding patterns, especially the common side-blotched lizard. They usually grow to about 6 inches long, including their tail. Male lizards are often bigger than females and have bright colors on their throats.

These lizards are a food source for many desert animals. Snakes, larger lizards, and birds often hunt them. Big lizards like collared, leopard, and spiny lizards, along with roadrunners, are their main hunters. In return, side-blotched lizards eat small creatures like insects, spiders, and sometimes even scorpions.

Because many animals hunt them, these lizards have many babies. They breed from April to June, and their tiny babies, only an inch long, start appearing in late May. You can see these young lizards throughout the summer, even into September.

Lizard Colors and Behavior

Side-blotched lizards are special because they have the most different male and female types (called "morphs") within one species. There are three types of males and two types of females. They show many different ways of behaving when it comes to having babies. These are often called "alternative reproductive tactics."

Male Lizard Types

• Orange-throated males are very strong and bossy. They have large areas of land (called territories) where several females live.
• Yellow stripe-throated males are "sneakers." They do not defend their own territory. Instead, they hang out near the edges of the orange-throated males' territories. They try to mate with females when the orange-throated male is not around, especially since the orange male's territory is so big.
• Blue-throated males are less aggressive. They guard only one female. They can fight off the yellow stripe-throated males, but they cannot beat the strong orange-throated males.

Female Lizard Types

• Orange-throated females lay many small eggs. They are also very protective of their territory.
• Yellow-throated females lay fewer, but larger, eggs. They are more relaxed and get along better with other females.

This interesting system is often called the "rock-paper-scissors effect." It's like the playground game because one type of lizard has an advantage over another, but not over the third. For example, orange beats blue, blue beats yellow, and yellow beats orange.

Sometimes, orange and blue-throated males might approach a human. Some people think they might be trying to give the female lizards a chance to escape. However, it's not proven if they are actually defending the females. Another idea is that they are just very quick to react to any movement in their territory. They might think it's another male lizard trying to invade, or even another female.

Different Kinds of Side-Blotched Lizards

There are many different kinds of side-blotched lizards, and it can be a bit confusing to tell them apart! Scientists have found many local forms and types that were once thought to be completely separate species. Based on newer research, here are some of the recognized species:

• Eastern side-blotched lizard, U. stejnegeri
• San Pedro Martir side-blotched lizard, U. palmeri
• Angel de la Guarda side-blotched lizard (a type not yet fully described by science)
• Salsipuedes side-blotched lizard, U. antiqua
• Santa Catalina side-blotched lizard, U. squamata
• San Esteban side-blotched lizard (another type not yet fully described)
• San Pedro Nolasco side-blotched lizard, U. nolascensis
• Common side-blotched lizard, U. stansburiana
  • Western side-blotched lizard, U. (stansburiana) elegans
  • Nevada side-blotched lizard, U. (stansburiana) nevadensis
  • Northern side-blotched lizard, U. (stansburiana) stansburiana
  • Eastern side-blotched lizard, U. (stansburiana) stejnegeri
  • Plateau side-blotched lizard, U. (stansburiana) uniformis
• Enchanted side-blotched lizard, U. encantadae
• El Muerto side-blotched lizard, U. lowei
• Swollen-nosed side-blotched lizard, U. tumidarostra
• Socorro side-blotched lizard, U. auriculata
• Clarion side-blotched lizard, U. clarionensis
• Ornate side-blotched lizard, U. mannophora

Some of these lizards, like U. stellata and U. concinna, are now usually seen as types of the U. stansburiana species. Also, U. encantadae, U. lowei, and U. tumidarostra might be types of a different species called the Las Encantadas side-blotched lizard. Similarly, U. auriculata and U. clarionensis might be types of a single species, the Revillagigedo side-blotched lizard.

Naming the Lizards

The name lowei for the El Muerto side-blotched lizard was given to honor an American scientist who studied reptiles, Charles Herbert Lowe.

Images for kids

• 

  Male common side-blotched lizard

Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Uta.

See also

In Spanish: Uta para niños