Banded rock lizard
| banded rock lizard | |
|---|---|
| Petrosaurus mearnsi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Petrosaurus |
| Species: | P. mearnsi |
| Binomial name | |
| Petrosaurus mearnsi (Stejneger, 1894) |
|
| Synonyms | |
The banded rock lizard (Petrosaurus mearnsi) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard.
Etymology
The specific name, mearnsi, is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens.[2][3]
Geographic range
It is endemic to extreme southern California and Baja California, Mexico.[4]
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 be 6.2 to 8.7 cm (2.4 to 3.4 in) long snout-to-vent. Males have more pronounced throat patterns and brighter blue coloring than females.
Reproduction
↑Jump back a sectionReferences
- This article is based on a description from "A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California", Robert N. Fisher and Ted J. Case, USGS, http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide/index.htm.
- ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Beltz, Ellin. 2006. Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained. ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore. xiii + 312 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Petrosaurus mearnsi, p. 174.)
- ^ Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Streptosaurus mearnsi, pp. 110-111.)
- ^ a b Stebbins, R.C. 2003. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series®. Houghton Mifflin. Boston and New York. xiii + 533 pp. ISBN 0-395-98272-3 (paperback). (Petrosaurus mearnsi, pp. 298-299 + Plate 32 + Map 100.)
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