Sceloporus merriami annulatus

Sceloporus merriami annulatus, commonly known as the Big Bend canyon lizard, is a subspecies of the canyon lizard, and is endemic to southwestern Texas and adjacent northeastern Mexico.[1]

Sceloporus merriami annulatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Sceloporus
Species:
S. merriami
Subspecies:
S. m. annulatus
Trinomial name
Sceloporus merriami annulatus

Etymology

The subspecific name, annulatus, comes from the Latin noun annulus, meaning "ring", and refers to the banded subcaudal surface. This banding is one of the key characteristics to differentiate this subspecies from the nominotypical subspecies, Sceloporus merriami merriami.[1]

Geographic range

S. m. annulatus is native to a fairly narrow range from the Big Bend region of the US state of Texas, to eastern Coahuila in Mexico.[1]

The holotype was collected by Edward Harrison Taylor and J.S. Wright in August 1931 in the Chisos Mountains of Brewster County, Texas.[1]

Description

The Big Bend canyon lizard is a medium-sized lizard, growing from 4.5 to 6.25 inches (11.5–16 cm) in total length. Its coloration varies with its choice of habitat, varying from grey to reddish, with two rows of dark spots down each side of the back and a dark line on the shoulder region. It has a fairly large head for its body size, and a dewlap which is larger in males than females. Males also have distinct blue patches on either side of the belly.

In this subspecies there are fewer than 53 dorsal scales from the interparietal scale to the base of the tail.[2]

Behavior

All canyon lizards are diurnal and insectivorous. Their primary choice of habitat is rocky, unvegetated canyon lands with numerous crevices to hide in, and ledges to bask on.

Reproduction

They are oviparous.

References
  1. Bell, Edwin L.; Smith, Hobart M.; Chiszar, David (2003), "An Annotated List of the Species-Group Names Applied to the Lizard Genus Sceloporus." (PDF), Acta Zoologica Mexicana (Nueva Serie) (90): 103–174
  2. Conant, R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 429 pp. ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Sceloporus merriami annulatus, p. 107 + Plate 16 + Map 62.)

Further reading
  • Smith, H.M. 1937. A New Subspecies of the Lizard Genus Sceloporus from Texas. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 50: 83–86. (Sceloporus merriami annulatus, subsp. n.)


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