Lizard Personalities

The side blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana, named after the inky dark splotch in their armpit, is one of the most commonly seen lizards in the Los Angeles area. If you join me on one of the lizard art walks I’m leading in August, you’ll likely see one or more.

Can you #FindThatLizard?

Unlike the other commonly seen species, the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), the males of this species do not have blue coloring on their bellies.

Still, the males of this species do have some blue, which is mostly on spots on their backs.

Males also have colored throat patches. The colors determine their personalities.

Orange-throated males are the most dominant and territorial.

Yellow-throated males are not territorial and instead pretend to be females, sneaking around to mate.

Blue-throated males are cooperative and work together to chase off orange and yellow-throated males. However, if confronted alone, orange-throated males will scare them off.

I hope you #FoundThatLizard and don’t forget to RSVP for this year’s #WorldLizardDay’s events!