Island Fence Lizard

About the Island Fence Lizard

Sceloporus becki, also known as the island fence lizard, is a species of lizard endemic to the Channel Islands of California. It was once considered a subspecies of the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), but is now considered to be its own species. Many authorities have accepted research concluding that the island fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis becki) is its own unique species. However, there is some discrepancy between the current classification of the species and emerging findings, thus the taxonomy of the entire Sceloporus occidentalis species could be revised in the future.

Despite it being a distinct subspecies, it shares a physically similar appearance as various mainland sub-species of the western fence lizard, a very common lizard in California. The island fence lizard is a relatively small species characterized by keeled and pointed dorsal scales of uniform size across the back, sides, and belly. The scales on the thighs are mostly keeled and noticeably smaller, while the rear of the limbs is colored yellow or orange. A distinctive blue coloration is present on the sides of the belly. The lizard's overall coloration varies... Wikipedia →