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Texas Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus olivaceus

Photo by SaraDiPietro
Published on Project Noah
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33.0146, -97.097

Field Notes

Description:

Texas spiny lizards are 7.5-11 inches in length, and are typically grey in color with black, white, or red-brown blotching down the back. Patterns vary greatly by locality, but the colors and pattern typically serve to be adequate camouflage against the bark of trees in its chosen habitat. The underside is usually uniformly light grey in color, but males typically have blue patches on either side of their belly. Their scales have a distinctly spiny texture to them. They have long toes, and sharp claws suited to climbing. Due to their spiny appearance, they are sometimes mistaken for horned lizards.

Habitat:

The Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard native to the south central United States, in the states of Texas and Oklahoma, and northeastern Mexico in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosí. They are quite common throughout their range, they can be found in trees or on fences.

Notes:

These are the noisiest lizards!

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

Photographed
PublishedApril 26, 2011

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