Sceloporus (Spiny Lizards)

Genus

Spiny Lizards

Sceloporus

32 species in our catalog · found in 42 parks

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassSquamata
FamilyPhrynosomatidae (Phrynosomatid Lizards)
GenusSceloporus (Spiny Lizards)

Species in this group

Plateau Fence Lizard

Sceloporus tristichus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Southwestern Fence Lizard

Sceloporus cowlesi

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Desert Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus magister

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Emerald Swift

Sceloporus malachiticus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus uniformis

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Western Fence Lizard

Sceloporus occidentalis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Sagebrush Lizard

Sceloporus graciosus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Crevice Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus poinsettii

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Rose-bellied Lizard

Sceloporus variabilis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Merendon Emerald Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus schmidti

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Honduran Emerald Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus hondurensis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Island Fence Lizard

Sceloporus becki

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus chrysostictus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Graphic Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus grammicus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Eastern Fence Lizard

Sceloporus undulatus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Canyon Lizard

Sceloporus merriami

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Crevice Swift

Sceloporus torquatus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Clark's Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus clarkii

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Dwarf Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus squamosus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Baja California Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus zosteromus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Hunsaker's Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus hunsakeri

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

West Gulf Rough-scaled Lizard

Sceloporus cyanogenys

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Cozumel Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus cozumelae

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Teapen Rosebelly Lizard

Sceloporus teapensis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Texas Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus olivaceus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus bimaculosus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Couch's Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus couchii

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Granite Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus orcutti

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Lundell's Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus lundelli

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Noble Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus oberon

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Pygmy Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus parvus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Minor Lizard

Sceloporus minor

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

See all 32 species Show fewer

Daily sighting probability by month

Probability-weighted average across the group's species

~10%

Jan

~20%

Feb

~40%

Mar

~40%

Apr

~50%

May

~50%

Jun

~40%

Jul

~40%

Aug

~40%

Sep

~30%

Oct

~20%

Nov

~20%

Dec

When they're spotted

When the group's species are recorded (aggregated)

Where to see Spiny Lizards

Warmer areas are where this group is recorded most often. Shaded: the known ranges of its 54 species, darker where more of them overlap (GARD, Roll et al. 2017 & Caetano et al. 2022). Our parks Our cities In captivity: 40 zoos & centres

Parks Ranked

#	Park	Country	Species	Daily sighting probability
1	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 32	>90%
	Plateau Fence Lizard			~80%
	Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard			~70%
	Sagebrush Lizard			~50%
	Desert Spiny Lizard			~40%
2	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 32	~90%
	Desert Spiny Lizard			~70%
	Western Fence Lizard			~60%
	Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard			<5%
3	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 32	~90%
	Plateau Fence Lizard			~60%
	Desert Spiny Lizard			~50%
	Sagebrush Lizard			~20%
4	Guadalupe Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 32	~90%
	Southwestern Fence Lizard			~70%
	Crevice Spiny Lizard			~50%
5	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 32	~80%
	Western Fence Lizard			~60%
	Sagebrush Lizard			~50%
6	Cumbres de Monterrey National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	9 of 32	~80%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~30%
	West Gulf Rough-scaled Lizard			~20%
	Texas Spiny Lizard			~20%
	Crevice Swift			~20%
	Graphic Spiny Lizard			~10%
	Couch's Spiny Lizard			~10%
	Noble Spiny Lizard			~10%
	Pygmy Spiny Lizard			~10%
	Minor Lizard			~10%
7	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	5 of 32	~70%
	Canyon Lizard			~30%
	Crevice Spiny Lizard			~30%
	Southwestern Fence Lizard			~20%
	Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard			~20%
	Texas Spiny Lizard			~10%
8	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 32	~70%
	Western Fence Lizard			~50%
	Sagebrush Lizard			~40%
9	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~70%
	Emerald Swift			~70%
10	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 32	~70%
	Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard			~40%
	Western Fence Lizard			~20%
	Sagebrush Lizard			~10%
	Desert Spiny Lizard			~10%
11	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 32	~60%
	Island Fence Lizard			~40%
	Western Fence Lizard			~30%
12	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 32	~60%
	Desert Spiny Lizard			~40%
	Clark's Spiny Lizard			~30%
	Southwestern Fence Lizard			~10%
13	Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 32	~60%
	Graphic Spiny Lizard			~40%
	Crevice Swift			~30%
14	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~50%
	Emerald Swift			~50%
15	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	2 of 32	~50%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~40%
	Dwarf Spiny Lizard			~30%
16	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 32	~50%
	Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard			~40%
	Cozumel Spiny Lizard			~20%
17	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~50%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~50%
18	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	1 of 32	~50%
	Merendon Emerald Spiny Lizard			~50%
19	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	1 of 32	~50%
	Honduran Emerald Spiny Lizard			~50%
20	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~50%
	Emerald Swift			~50%
21	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~50%
	Emerald Swift			~50%
22	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 32	~50%
	Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard			~40%
	Lundell's Spiny Lizard			~10%
23	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~40%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~40%
24	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	1 of 32	~40%
	Emerald Swift			~40%
25	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~40%
	Emerald Swift			~40%
26	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~40%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~40%
27	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 32	~40%
	Hunsaker's Spiny Lizard			~20%
	Baja California Spiny Lizard			~20%
28	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~40%
	Eastern Fence Lizard			~40%
29	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 32	~40%
	Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard			~30%
	Cozumel Spiny Lizard			~10%
30	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	1 of 32	~30%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~30%
31	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 32	~30%
	Baja California Spiny Lizard			~20%
	Granite Spiny Lizard			~10%
32	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~30%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~30%
33	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 32	~30%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~30%
34	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~30%
	Western Fence Lizard			~30%
35	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	1 of 32	~20%
	Emerald Swift			~20%
36	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 32	~20%
	Cozumel Spiny Lizard			~20%
37	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	1 of 32	~20%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~20%
38	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	1 of 32	~20%
	Teapen Rosebelly Lizard			~20%
39	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 32	~20%
	Baja California Spiny Lizard			~20%
40	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~20%
	Eastern Fence Lizard			~20%
41	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~10%
	Sagebrush Lizard			~10%
42	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~10%
	Emerald Swift			~10%

Cities Ranked

#	City	Country	Species	Daily sighting probability
1	San Antonio	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 32	~60%
	Texas Spiny Lizard			~50%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~30%
2	Tegucigalpa	🇭🇳 Honduras	2 of 32	~60%
	Honduran Emerald Spiny Lizard			~40%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~40%
3	Austin	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~50%
	Texas Spiny Lizard			~50%
4	Los Angeles	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 32	~50%
	Western Fence Lizard			~50%
	Granite Spiny Lizard			<5%
5	Toluca	🇲🇽 México	2 of 32	~50%
	Graphic Spiny Lizard			~30%
	Crevice Swift			~30%
6	Puebla	🇲🇽 México	1 of 32	~50%
	Graphic Spiny Lizard			~50%
7	Mexico City	🇲🇽 México	2 of 32	~50%
	Graphic Spiny Lizard			~30%
	Crevice Swift			~20%
8	San Diego	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 32	~50%
	Western Fence Lizard			~50%
	Granite Spiny Lizard			<5%
9	León	🇲🇽 México	2 of 32	~40%
	Crevice Swift			~30%
	Graphic Spiny Lizard			~20%
10	Sacramento	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~40%
	Western Fence Lizard			~40%
11	Phoenix	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~40%
	Desert Spiny Lizard			~40%
12	San Francisco	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~30%
	Western Fence Lizard			~30%
13	San José	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 32	~30%
	Emerald Swift			~30%
14	Dallas	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~30%
	Texas Spiny Lizard			~30%
15	Tijuana	🇲🇽 México	1 of 32	~30%
	Western Fence Lizard			~30%
16	Monterrey	🇲🇽 México	4 of 32	~30%
	West Gulf Rough-scaled Lizard			~10%
	Texas Spiny Lizard			~10%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			<5%
	Minor Lizard			<5%
17	San Salvador	🇸🇻 El Salvador	1 of 32	~30%
	Emerald Swift			~30%
18	Las Vegas	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 32	~30%
	Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard			~20%
	Desert Spiny Lizard			~10%
19	Managua	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	1 of 32	~20%
	Rose-bellied Lizard			~20%
20	Mesa	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~20%
	Desert Spiny Lizard			~20%
21	San Luis Potosí	🇲🇽 México	1 of 32	~20%
	Graphic Spiny Lizard			~20%
22	Guadalajara	🇲🇽 México	1 of 32	~10%
	Crevice Swift			~10%
23	Salt Lake City	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	~10%
	Sagebrush Lizard			~10%
24	Portland	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	<5%
	Western Fence Lizard			<5%
25	Seattle	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	<5%
	Western Fence Lizard			<5%
26	Washington	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 32	<5%
	Eastern Fence Lizard			<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Leipzig Zoological Garden	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
2	Tierpark Berlin	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
3	Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
4	North Carolina Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
5	Zoo Miami	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
6	Cheyenne Mountain Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
7	Oakland Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
8	Phoenix Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
9	Bear Country USA	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
10	Warsaw Zoo	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
11	Berlin Zoological Garden	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
12	National Zoo of Malaysia	🇲🇾 Malaysia	In captivity
13	Zoologischer Garten Leipzig	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
14	Fort Worth Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
15	Montgomery Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
16	Houston Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
17	Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
18	Zoo Opole	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
19	Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden	🇭🇺 Hungary	In captivity
20	Krakow Zoo	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
21	Zoo Neuwied	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
22	Reserva Zoológica Oasys MiniHollywood	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
23	Henry Vilas Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
24	Reptile Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
25	Sacramento Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
26	Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
27	ZooAmerica	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
28	Bergen County Zoological Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
29	Exotarium Sosnowiec	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
30	Aquarium Berlin	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
31	Aquatis	🇨🇭 Switzerland	In captivity
32	Dallas World Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
33	Biomes Marine Biology Center	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
34	herpetarium warszawskiego ZOO	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
35	Reptiland	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
36	akwarium warszawskiego ZOO	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
37	Bristol Zoo	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	In captivity
38	hipopotamiarnia i akwarium morskie warszawskiego ZOO	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
39	Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World	🇹🇭 Thailand	In captivity
40	Wolfgang-Köhler-Primaten-Forschungszentrum	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity

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