Banded rock lizard
| Banded rock lizard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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.[2]
Etymology
The specific name, mearnsi, is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens.[3][4]
Geographic range
It is endemic to extreme southern California and Baja California, Mexico.[5] It also occurs on Isla El Muerto.[1]
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.[6]
Habitat
These lizards are associated with boulder hillsides,[6] extending in Baja California to chaparral and pinyon-juniper woodlands.[1]
Diet
They are omnivorous, feeding not only on insects and spiders, but also on buds and flowers.[7]
Reproduction
Gravid females lay eggs from June through August. Clutch size varies from 2 to 6 eggs.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 Hollingsworth, B. & Hammerson, G.A. (2007). "Petrosaurus mearnsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2007: e.T64067A12741153. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- 1 2 Petrosaurus mearnsi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 7 June 2016.
- ↑ 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 Robert Fisher; Ted J. Case. "Petrosaurus mearnsi — Banded Rock Lizard". A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- 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.)
- 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.
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)