Western Fence Lizard

The Western Fence Lizard is a reptile that is often seen scurrying along the shrubs and trees of the woods in the western states of America. They are very common in coniferous forests that form part of their natural habitat. One can also keep them as pets, but they need special care.

Western Fence Lizard Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Subphylum	Vertebrata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Suborder	Iguania
Family	Phrynosomatidae
Genus	Sceloporus
Scientific Name	Sceloporus Occidentalis

Western Fence Lizard Quick Information

Other Names	Blue Belly Lizard, Blue Bellied Lizard, Fence Lizard, Swift Lizard
Size	For a fully grown lizard: Snout Vent Length – 3.9 inches (99 mm), Total Length – 8.4 inches (213 mm)
Color	Brown or Black, Black Stripes on Backs, Bright Blue Bellies (In Males)
Distribution	Western United States from Central Washington, Oregon through California and Baja California, Southwestern Idaho and Western Utah
Habitat	Grassland, sagebrush, broken chaparral, woodland, coniferous forest and farmland
Clutch	3 to 17 eggs, usually 8 eggs
Incubation Period	July to September
Lifespan	5 to 7 years
Diet	Insects and Spiders
Predators	Snakes, Coyotes, Bobcats, and Hawks
Hibernation	Undergoes hibernation during the winter months; duration, and emergence from burrows varies with climatic changes
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern

Behavior

An interesting behavior of Western Fence lizards is that they keep moving in and out of the sun to regulate their body temperature. This technique is called thermoregulation and helps these cold-blooded animals to avoid the extremes of climatic variations.

Another aspect of their behavior is territorial defense. Males do rapid pushups that display their bright blue bellies as a signal to drive away other males and defend their territory.

Mating and Reproduction

The breeding season for this reptile ranges from March to June. They fight with other males to show their dominance over their territory. If a female is interested, she comes closer, and the male vies for her attention. However, it is up to the female if she will allow the male to mate with her.

The female has a gestation period of two to four weeks. After this, she lays her eggs, during the months of May to July. The female lays a clutch of about eight eggs on average, being able to lay up to seventeen eggs in a single clutch.

Life Cycle

The female incubates her eggs for two months, after which the eggs hatch and the baby lizards emerge from their shells. The hatchlings will grow and mature in a year and will be able to mate in the spring of the following year. The bright blue color that is characteristic of the adult males is not present in the juveniles; they develop a little later.

Adaptations

• This lizard has a detachable tail that it discards when attacked. The tail moves a little when it gets detached so that it can distract the attacker. A new tail will grow back but will be shorter than the original one.
• They can change color according to their surroundings and this helps them camouflage themselves from their predators.
• They have amazing reflexes and can run away quickly from their attackers.
• They have needle-shaped teeth with the help of which they catch their prey.

Interesting Facts

• Certain enzymes found in the lizard’s blood kill the bacteria that are responsible for causing Lyme’s disease. These organisms are purged from the intestines of the carrier ticks when they feed on the blood of the lizards; thus, reducing the incidence of this disease in their habitat.
• The blue scales on the ventral side of their body have given them the name “blue belly” lizards.
• They get their required water by licking the mist and the dewdrops that collect on plants and leaves.
• Lack of heat makes them lethargic and results in their digestive process slowing down.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Western_fence_lizard

http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/ s.o.bocourtii.html#alternatenames

https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/herpetology/amphibians-reptiles-washington/western-fence-lizard

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/64131/12747877