Sagebrush swift
The Sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus graciosus ) is a spiny lizard foind in the United States of America. Named after the sagebrush plants near which it is commonly found, this lizard has keeled and spiny scales running along its dorsal surface.
In appearance, Sagebrush lizards are grey, brown, or olive, with hints of blue or green on the dorsal surface during the light phase, and they often have irregular banding patterns on the body and tail. They also often display a black bar on the shoulder, and a light lateral and dorsolateral line on both sides. The scales on the rear portion of the thigh are small and granular, while the armpit and lateral surface of the body is often rust-colored. Females have white or yellow bellies, and males have distinctive blue patches on the abdomen and throat, although the throat patch can be absent. Males also have enlarged postanal scales and two areas of swelling at the base of the tail. During the breeding season, males may develop orange breeding colors. Young lizards look similar to adults but lack dark blue markings.
Sagebrush lizards are found in much of the western United States. They occur throughout Utah, Nevada, southern Idaho, northern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, Texas, and western Colorado. They are also widely distributed throughout Wyoming, Oregon, California, Washington, western North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Sagebrush lizards prefer to live in shrublands, but can also be found in a variety of other habitats including coniferous forests, and pinyon-juniper woodlands. They do not migrate but may occasionally move outside the normal area of activity to find suitable nest sites for egg-laying, or to find hibernation sites.
Sagebrush lizards are generally solitary and diurnal reptiles; they hunt by day and like to bask in the morning and late afternoon on logs and rocky outcrops. They spend most of their time on the ground; however, they have the capability to climb to escape predators. When ground temperatures become hot, they move into the low branches of shrubs or under vegetation. At night, on rainy days, and on cool, butty days, they move underground or shelter under debris. Sagebrush lizards are easily frightened and will immediately seek refuge in crevices, brush, rodent burrows, rocks, or trees when alarmed. When feeling threatened they may sometimes stay still and play dead. Sagebrush lizards brumate during winter weather. The length of the warm-season activity varies geographically and from year to year, but at most localities, these lizards are active from March or April to late September or early October. Juveniles appear to be active later in the autumn than adults.
Sagebrush lizards have a carnivorous (insectivorous) diet. They eat a variety of insects, such as ants, beetles, grasshoppers, flies, cicadas, planthoppers, butterflies, moths, and spiders.
Sagebrush lizards are polygynous, meaning that males mate with more than one female during the breeding season which takes place in the spring. During this time and after males defend territories by performing posturing and physical combats. Male and female territories overlap, which enables the male lizards to court and mate with a few familiar females. Courtship typically involves head bob and shudder displays. Females lay 1 or 2 clutches of 2-10 eggs during late spring to midsummer. The eggs are laid about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep in loose soil, usually at the base of a shrub. The eggs hatch in 45-75 days and the young become reproductively mature in the first (southern range) or second (northern range) year of age.
Sagebrush lizards do not face any major threats at present.
According to IUCN Red List, the total adult population size of the Sagebrush lizard is unknown but certainly exceeds 100,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
