Banded rock lizard
| banded rock lizard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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) | |
| Synonyms | |
The banded rock lizard (Petrosaurus mearnsi ) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard.
Etymology
The specific name, mearnsi, is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens.[2][3]
Geographic range
It is endemic to extreme southern California and Baja California, Mexico.[4]
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. Individuals may be 6.2 to 8.7 cm (2.4 to 3.4 in) long snout-to-vent. Males have more pronounced throat patterns and brighter blue coloring than females.
Habitat
These lizards are associated with boulder hillsides.
Diet
They are omnivorous, feeding not only on insects and spiders, but also on buds and flowers.[5]
Reproduction
Gravid females lay eggs from June through August. Clutch size varies from 2 to 6 eggs.[5]
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.
- ↑ Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore. xiii + 312 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Petrosaurus mearnsi, p. 174.)
- ↑ Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Streptosaurus mearnsi, pp. 110-111.)
- 1 2 Stebbins, R.C. 2003. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series®. Houghton Mifflin. Boston and New York. xiii + 533 pp. ISBN 0-395-98272-3 (paperback). (Petrosaurus mearnsi, pp. 298-299 + Plate 32 + Map 100.)
Further reading
- Stejneger, L. 1894. "Description of Uta mearnsi, a new Lizard from California". Proceedings of the United States National Museum 17: 589-591. (Uta mearnsi, new species)