Graphic Spiny Lizard

Graphic Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus grammicus

Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

11 Verified sightings at Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca From 2019 to 2026
60 In all 2 parks
November Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Graphic Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus grammicus is a species of lizard from Mexico and the southern United States. It is sometimes referred to as the mesquite lizard or graphic spiny lizard. Sceloporus grammicus is native to the southern United States in the state of Texas, and to Mexico in the states of Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas, Coahuila, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Querétaro, and Aguascalientes.

Sceloporus grammicus is a flat-bodied lizard with a tail that is slightly longer than head-body length. Adult total body length varies between 10 and 17.5 cm (3.9 and 6.9 in). The dorsum is mottled olive or gray and has a pattern consisting of 3–6 dark crossbars. The forelegs and tail have narrow crossbars. Males differ from females by having blue patches and black mottling on throat, a dark line on each shoulder, and blue patches on sides of belly, sometimes bordered in black.

Sceloporus grammicus is viviparous. Litter size varies between 2 and 12. Females become sexually mature between 34 and 74 mm (1.3 and 2.9 in) in snout–vent length. There are four recognized subspecies of Sceloporus grammicus including... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
2 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Puebla 🇲🇽 México
~50%
2 Mexico City 🇲🇽 México
~30%
3 Toluca 🇲🇽 México
~30%
4 León 🇲🇽 México
~20%
5 San Luis Potosí 🇲🇽 México
~20%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Graphic Spiny Lizard in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca?

Likely

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Graphic Spiny Lizard sighting in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca on a given day, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the most-seen of the 6 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Graphic Spiny Lizard in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca?

April and November

In those months about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Graphic Spiny Lizard in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca on a given day, against under 5% in May, the lowest month. Those are among Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca's driest months, with about 40 mm of rain a month against 270 mm in July.

What time of day is best to see a Graphic Spiny Lizard?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Graphic Spiny Lizard sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca the best place to see a Graphic Spiny Lizard?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Graphic Spiny Lizard sightings, Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (Mexico, about 10%).

Where does the Graphic Spiny Lizard sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Graphic Spiny Lizard is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca (11 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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