Common Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus graciosus
![[Common Sagebrush Lizard]](/images/70ds.jpg)
Description
Distribution Range
General range map taken from CWHR.
Museum records taken from following institutions: CAS Herps, CAS-SUR, MVZ Herps.
Typical Elevation
We do not yet have enough records from distinct localities to calculate typical elevation. We need 2 more distinct localities.
Taxonomy
The subspecies that occurs in our area is the Western Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus gracilis).
Taxonomic Etymology
Sceloporus is a concatenation of two Greek words. σκέλος means leg and πόρος means pore. It is a reference to the femoral pores on the hind legs (Beltz 2006).
graciosus means graceful in Latin.
Taxonomy Notes
Additional Information
Images
Unless otherwise noted, all images are of wild specimens in Shasta County.
Please be kind, do not hotlink images and do not use images without permission of the copyright owner.
![[Common Sagebrush Lizard]](/images/31sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Notice the lack of yellow on her hind legs. Vicinity of Hazel Creek Rd, 3000+ ft elevation.
![[Common Sagebrush Lizard]](/images/32sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
Note the diffusion of the side pattern and the small weekly keeled scales compared to Western Fence Lizards. Vicinity of Hazel Creek Rd, 3000+ ft elevation.
![[Common Sagebrush Lizard]](/images/70sm.jpg)
Habitat Shots
Unless otherwise noted, these habitat shots are from within Shasta County where this species is known to occur.
![[Common Sagebrush Lizard habitat]](/images/72sm.jpg)
Similar Species
Western Fence Lizard
Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) have yellow on their hind limbs and have strongly keeled scales on their back.
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