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(Sceloporus magister)
Identification: Upper side with large spiny scales; sides often with scattered yellowish or gold scales; head yellowish or orange in adult; total length up to about 33 cm (13 inches).
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Mature male: Two enlarged scales on underside of base of tail just behind vent; underside of base of tail with two bulges (from hemipenes); blue patch at center of throat; vivid black-edged blue or blue-green patch on each side of belly; large black mark on each side of neck. |
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Mature female: Blue areas faint or absent. |
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Juvenile: Head not yellowish or orange; upper side
with conspicuous crossbands.
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Colorado Distribution:
Extreme southwestern Colorado at
elevations below about 5,100 feet. Generally scarce, fairly common in a few
localized areas.
Habitat:
Shrub-covered dirt banks and sparsely
vegetated rocky areas near flowing streams or arroyos; prefers soft soils
beneath greasewood, rabbitbrush, salt-cedar, and other shrubs and also
frequently perches on large rocks or in large shrubs or trees (e.g.,
cottonwood). Cover includes burrows made by mammals, spaces under rocks, dense
vegetation, or similar sites.
Life History: Females lay eggs probably from June
to mid-July, perhaps as early as late May. Hatchlings appear in
August.