The Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi) is a species of lizard native to Florida, the United States. The part of its scientific name, woodi, is in honor of taxidermist Nelson R. Wood of the Smithsonian Institution who collected the holotype.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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Ambush predatorAmbush predators are carnivorous animals that capture or trap prey by stealth, luring, or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an elemen...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe adult Florida scrub lizard is gray or brownish with a longitudinal brown stripe down each side of the body. The male has turquoise patches on the throat and belly. The female usually lacks the throat patches but may have lighter patches on the abdomen.
These lizards have four main population areas, the Atlantic coast scrubs, the Gulf Coast scrubs, the inland central peninsula, and the Ocala National Forest and environs. They occur on the Lake Wales Ridge and are common in the Ocala National Forest. They prefer to live in Florida scrub, including evergreen oak and sand pine scrub. They are found less often in the ecotone between scrub and sandhill habitats, flatwoods, and citrus groves. These lizards are most common in dry habitats with open basking areas and nesting with nearby pines or oaks for shelter. They try to avoid closed canopy.
Florida scrub lizards are mainly terrestrial creatures. They are active during the day spending their time hunting, basking, or resting on low tree branches. Florida scrub lizards hunt by staying still and waiting patiently for potential prey to pass by.
Florida scrub lizards are carnivores (insectivores). Their diet includes various insects, spiders, beetles, and other small arthropods.
Florida scrub lizards breed in spring. The female buries up to 5 clutches of 2 to 8 eggs each. Eggs take about 75 days to hatch, probably depending on ambient temperature. The last hatchlings of the year emerge in November. Young Florida scrub lizards become reproductively mature and start to breed 10 to 11 months after hatching.
The main threat to Florida scrub lizards is the loss of their native habitat. They were more widespread before the intensive development of Florida's scrub zones and sandy ridges. Habitat loss to development, including the establishment of citrus groves, has reduced populations. Fire suppression causes habitat changes such as the closure of the canopy, which eliminates the open spaces required by these lizards.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Florida scrub lizard total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
