Petrosaurus mearnsi
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| Petrosaurus mearnsi | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Petrosaurus |
| Species: | P. mearnsi |
| Binomial name | |
| Petrosaurus mearnsi (Stejneger, 1894) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Petrosaurus mearnsi, also called commonly the banded rock lizard and Mearns' rock lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae.[2] The species is native to western North America.
The specific name, mearnsi, is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens.[3][4]
Geographic range
Petrosaurus mearnsi 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 have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 6.2–8.7 cm (2.4–3.4 in). Males have more pronounced throat patterns and brighter blue coloring than females.[6]
Habitat
Petrosaurus mearnsi is associated with boulder hillsides,[6] extending in Baja California to chaparral and pinyon-juniper woodlands.[1]