Biology:California rock lizard

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Short description: Genus of lizards

California rock lizards - Petrosaurus
Blauer Felsenleguan.jpg
Baja blue rock lizard
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Petrosaurus
Boulenger, 1885[1]
Species

See text

The California rock lizards are a genus (Petrosaurus) of New World lizards in the family Phrynosomatidae.[2]

Geographic range

They are endemic to southern California and Baja California, Mexico.[3]

Habitat

This lizard species lives almost exclusively on rock outcrops, boulder piles, and canyon walls, where it shelters under rocks. Their habitat consists of arid and semiarid foothills and canyons along the western margin of the Colorado Desert.[4]

Reproduction

The courtship begins shortly after emergence in early spring. The eggs are laid around June and July.

Predators

The few predators that could pursue this lizard are collared lizards and avian predators, such as hawks, ravens, and roadrunners.

Species

The genus Petrosaurus contains three species.

  • Petrosaurus mearnsi (Stejneger, 1894) - banded rock lizard
  • Petrosaurus repens (Van Denburgh, 1895)
  • Petrosaurus thalassinus (Cope, 1863) - Baja blue rock lizard[5]

References

  1. Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de.
  2. Smith, H.M. and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America, A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. pp. 110-111.
  3. Stejneger, Leonhard and Thomas Barbour. 1917. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. pp. 50-52.
  4. http://www.socalcamping.com/fieldguide/reptile/bandedrocklizard.html
  5. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

Wikidata ☰ Q2686485 entry