Sceloporus merriami
Species of lizard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sceloporus merriami, commonly known as the canyon lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent northern Mexico.[1][2]
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| Canyon lizard | |
|---|---|
| |
| A male Big Bend canyon lizard (Sceloporus merriami annulatus) near Big Bend National Park, Texas | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Sceloporus |
| Species: | S. merriami |
| Binomial name | |
| Sceloporus merriami Stejneger, 1904 | |
Etymology
The specific name, merriami, is in honor of American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam.[2][3][4]
Geographic range
Habitat
Behavior
Sceloporus merriami lives on rock faces of canyon walls, and shelters in crevices.[1]
Description
Adults of Sceloporus merriami may reach 58 mm (2.2 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL). Including the tail, they may reach 162 mm (6.4 in) in total length. The dorsal scales are small, and the lateral scales are granular.[5]
Dorsally, the canyon lizard is gray, tan, or reddish-brown, matching the rocks on which it lives. There are four rows of dark spots on the back, and a vertical black line in front of the front leg. Males have blue and black lines on the throat.[6]
Reproduction
Subspecies
Seven subspecies of Sceloporus merriami are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]
- Sceloporus merriami annulatus H.M. Smith, 1937 – Big Bend canyon lizard
- Sceloporus merriami australis K.L. Williams, H.M. Smith & Chrapliwy, 1960 – southeastern canyon lizard
- Sceloporus merriami ballingeri Lemos-Espinal, H.M. Smith, Auth & Chiszar, 2001 – Ballinger's canyon lizard[4]
- Sceloporus merriami longipunctatus Olson, 1973 – Presidio canyon lizard
- Sceloporus merriami merriami Stejneger, 1904 – Merriam's canyon lizard[4][7]
- Sceloporus merriami sanojae Lemos-Espinal & Chiszar, 2003 – Sanoja's canyon lizard[4]
- Sceloporus merriami williamsi Lemos-Espinal, Chiszar & H.M. Smith, 2000 – Williams' canyon lizard[4][7]