Banded rock lizard
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| banded rock lizard | |
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| Petrosaurus mearnsi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Petrosaurus |
| Species: | P. mearnsi |
| Binomial name | |
| Petrosaurus mearnsi (Stejneger, 1894) |
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| Synonyms | |
The banded rock lizard (Petrosaurus mearnsi) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard. The specific name, mearnsi, is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens.[2]
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[edit] Geographic range
It is endemic to extreme southern California and Baja California, Mexico.[3]
[edit] Description
Petrosaurus mearnsi is an extremely flat-bodied lizard. Its dorsum is olive, brown or gray, with white or bluish spots. It has a single black collar, a banded tail, and granular scales on its body, with keeled tail and limb scales. It is 6.2 to 8.7 cm long SVL (snout to vent length). Males have more pronounced throat patterns and brighter blue coloring than females.
[edit] Habitat
These lizards are associated with boulder hillsides.
[edit] References
- This article is based on a description from "A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California", Robert N. Fisher and Ted J. Case, USGS, http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide/index.htm.
- ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Beltz, Ellin. 2006. Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained. ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html.
- ^ H.M. Smith and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America, A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. pp. 110-111.
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