Sceloporus slevini
Slevin's Bunchgrass Lizard
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Range:
Other Names:
Description: A small (up to 68 mm or 2.7" from snout to vent), tan, gray-brown, or yellow-brown lizard with a broad, gray mid-dorsal stripe and a light stripe on each upper side. The lower sides are often tinted with orange. Some individuals are boldly patterned and others are relatively plain. Boldly patterned animals have dark, crescent-shaped body blotches, crisp-edged stripes on the back, and a dark patch with a light blue center on each shoulder. The back edge of each body blotch is often trimmed with a thin, light line. Plain individuals are generally gray-brown, lack blotches, and have only faint, soft-edged stripes. Males often have two blue bars on the belly. The scales are pointed, keeled, and overlap like shingles. The scale rows on the sides of the body are horizontal (spines point straight back).
Venom: None
Similar Species: All other Sceloporus in New Mexico have diagonal scale rows on the sides of the body (spines point up and back).
Habitat: Mountain populations inhabit Madrean Evergreen Woodland, Petran Montane Conifer Forest, and Petran Subalpine Conifer Forest communities. It is usually encountered in open, sunny areas with abundant bunch grass.
Behavior: Primarily diurnal. Can be active at any time of year on sunny and warm days. It is often seen scurrying around on the ground between clumps of grass. It also climbs up into tufts. When threatened it often seeks shelter in the inner tangles of the grass.
Hibernation:
Reproduction: This lizard mates in April and lays a clutch of up to 13 eggs in June, July, or August. Hatchlings emerge in August and September.
Diet: Slevin's Bunchgrass Lizard eats a variety of insects including true bugs, ants, beetles, wasps, and grasshoppers. It also eats spiders.
Adapted from account on reptilesofaz.org
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