Texas Spiny Lizard
Texas Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus olivaceus
Reptilia
COMMON

Stats

Lifespan
4-7 yrs
Size
Medium
Diet
Insectivore
Activity
Diurnal
Social
Solitary
Biome
Temperate woodland
Range
North America
Movement
Climbing
Breeding
Egg-laying
Defense
Camouflage
Status
Common

About

The Texas spiny lizard is covered in keeled, overlapping scales that give it a rough, bristly texture used as camouflage against tree bark. Males display bright blue patches on their throat and belly, flashed during territorial push-up displays.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    hatchling
    A miniature reptile emerges from its egg already independent.
  2. 2.
    juvenile
    A juvenile sheds and grows, often duller-colored than adults.
  3. 3.
    adult
    Fully grown with adult size and coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Phrynosomatidae
Genus
Sceloporus
Species
Sceloporus olivaceus