Southern Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus vandenburgianus

Southern Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus vandenburgianus. Lizards photographed in the greater Palm Spring area, Palm Springs, California, June 2024.

The Southern Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus vandenburgianus, is a member of the Iguanidae Family of American arboreal lizards, chuckwallas, and iguanas. The Iguanidae Family consists of one hundred and seventy-six members placed into three subfamilies and fifteen genera. There are one hundred species in the Sceloporus genus. The Southern Sagebrush Lizard is one of three subspecies of Sagebrush Lizards, each primarily distinguished by their location. In Mexico, they are referred to as Lagarto Artemisa del Sur.

Southern Sagebrush Lizards have a somewhat depressed head and body with small keeled and pointed scales that overlap on the upper surfaces of their body and limbs. These scales are arranged in nearly parallel longitudinal rows, and are not as large as those on other lizards of the Sceloporus genus. The scales on their upper head are smooth, moderately large, and slightly convex. Their nostril openings are much closer to the end of their snout than to their eyes. Unlike other lizards, they do not possess a complete transverse gular fold on their throat. The posterior surfaces of their thighs are covered with small, smooth scales, and their ventral scales are also smooth. Their caudal scales are larger than their dorsal scales, keeled, and strongly pointed. Femoral pores vary in number from thirteen to nineteen on each thigh. Southern Sagebrush Lizards have a brown, olive, or grayish dorsal surface with a series of dark blotches on their back and sides. These blotches often have dark posterior and lateral margins, and are much more distinct on females compared to males. Dorso-lateral light longitudinal lines are usually present on both sexes. While their face displays no definite pattern, the upper lateral series of spots is continued along their neck and temporal region. The dorsal surface of their tail may be unicolor, or display a series of dark spots and the continuations of the dorso-lateral light stripes. Sexual dimorphism is displayed with males possessing enlarged postanal scales and a tail base that is broader than those of females. Additionally, males have a patch of blue color on each side of their belly and throat. These patches usually meet across the belly and touch the throat coloring. The underside of their tail and legs are also blue, and some males may develop bright orange breeding coloring. Females and juveniles have a yellowish white ventral surface that may be washed with blue. When breeding, females develop orange coloring on their sides and neck, and yellow coloring on their ventral surface. The Southern Sagebrush Lizard measures between 4.8 cm (1.9 inches) and 7.3 cm (2.9 inches) in snout to vent length. Sagebrush Lizards can typically be distinguished by a patch of rusty orange coloring just behind their front legs and a black bar on their front shoulders.

Southern Sagebrush Lizards are diurnal and remain active from March or April through September or October, depending upon the weather. During the winter, they hibernate in rock cracks and mammal burrows. They live mostly on the ground near bushes, logs, rocks, or brush piles. They are an agile climber and can quickly jump from rock to rock. Often, they can be observed basking on rocks and logs. Southern Sagebrush Lizards breed from May to July. Females lay one to two clutches of two to seven eggs from June to August. The eggs hatch in August and September, and the young have little or no blue on their belly. Their diet consists of a variety of small invertebrates including ants, termites, grasshoppers, flies, spiders, and beetles. In turn, they are preyed upon by snakes, predatory birds, and mammals. To escape danger, they run quickly into rocks, rodent burrows, or brush. They may also escape by climbing up trees or rock outcrops. Additionally, they can drop their tail when threatened, which can easily grow back. The detached tail wriggles on the ground and distracts the predator from the body of the lizard, allowing it more time to escape. The Southern Sagebrush Lizard is a poorly studied subspecies with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

The Southern Sagebrush Lizard All populations are found above 1,900 m (6, 233 feet) up to at least 3,100 m (10,170 feet). Southern Sagebrush Lizards inhabit shrublands such as chaparral, manzanita, and ceanothus, as well as open pine and Douglas fir forests. They prefer open areas with scattered low bushes and lots of sunlight. They often occur along side and may be confused with the Western Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, due to their similar appearances and overlapping ranges. Western Fence Lizards have larger keeled scales on their dorsal side compared to those of Sagebrush Lizards. Additionally, Western Fence Lizards have strongly keeled scales on the backs of their thighs that are typically yellow or orange in color. Finally, the Western Fence Lizard does not have rusty orange coloring behind its forearms or black bars on its front shoulders, which are present on Sagebrush Lizards.

From a conservation perspective, the Southern Sagebrush Lizard is considered to be of Least Concern because it is common throughout its range and occurs in an area of extensive suitable habitat that appears not to be under significant threat. Most of the places where it occurs are rather remote. While no major threats have been identified for this species, local populations may be impacted by fire, logging, and recreational use. As a mountaintop species, it might be impacted in the future by climate change.