Sagebrush Lizard Information
Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus)
The Sagebrush Lizard is small (1.5 - 2.5" body length) and narrow-bodied. The color pattern in adults consists of alternating dark and light stripes running down the back. The colors are typically brown, gray, and cream. Males have mottled blue throat patches and bright blue belly patches, while females are white or yellow below (Censky 1986). The body and tail scales appear somewhat spiny. Females lay a single clutch of 2-7 tough, white leathery eggs in loose or sandy soil in June to July and hatch from July to August. The eggs average about 7.5 X 12 mm (Nussbaum et al. 1983). The young hatch in late summer and feed primarily on insects and other arthropods. Body length of hatchlings is about 25 mm, and coloration is similar to adults. Most of the juviniles we have found have had orange colaration under the chin. Sagebrush Lizards are found primarily in sagebrush areas throught the South West, but also occur in open forests and brush lands, they are found in both areas of fine soils, rocky outcrops and dry riverbeds. They stay near shelter such as stony piles, crevices, and animal burrows. They are active during the day, with peaks of activity around 10 am and 5:00 pm. At night in sandy areas they burrow just under the surface to sleep