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Reptiles -
Lizards
Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
Family: Phrynosomatidae Order: Squamata Class: Reptilia
DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND SEASONALITY
The common side-blotched lizard is common to abundant throughout
arid and
semi-arid
regions of the state, excluding most of northern California, the Sacramento Valley, the
Sierra-Cascade ranges, and several of the Channel Islands. Its elevation range extends
from below sea level to over 2440 m (8000 ft). Prefers open
habitats including
desert cactus scrub,
coastal scrub, chaparral, grass,
juniper,
pinyon pine-juniper,
Joshua tree
and valley-foothill.
SPECIFIC HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
Feeding: Side-blotched lizards eat a wide variety of
insects
and other arthropods. Little time is spent foraging. Lizards feed opportunistically on any moving insect of
suitable size that passes nearby as they bask or move about their home range. Food also
includes scorpions, spiders, mites, ticks and sowbugs. Some vegetable
material is eaten either accidentally or possibly for water.
Cover: Seldom climbs. It, therefore, must hide in rock crevices and
under other objects of sufficient size.
Reproduction: Little is known about oviposition sites. In the lab, eggs are deposited
in moist sand. 3 clutches have been found in soil 0, 11, and 12 cm (0, 27.5,
and 30 in) beneath a large stone.
Water: Water is probably obtained from food. Vegetable material may
be eaten as a source of water.
Pattern: Open habitats are preferred. It is uncommon or absent from dense chaparral
or other dense plant growth.
SPECIES LIFE HISTORY
Activity Patterns:
Diurnal,
ground dwelling. The peak activity period is late afternoon,
although there is some activity all day. Side-blotched lizards usually bask in the morning,
retreat to the shade of bushes midday, and move about their home range in the late
afternoon. Males more actively patrol their home range than females.
Lizards are active all year, although activity during the winter is dependent on
temperature.
Seasonal Movements/Migration: No data.
Home Range: Home
range
size varies with year, with location, and inversely with
density. Home ranges of males are larger than home ranges of females. Male and
female home range sizes vary from 400 to 800 m2 (0.05 to 0.20 ac) and 65 to 490 m2
(0.02 to 0.12 ac), respectively. The highest density of adults occurs
in the spring during the breeding season and declines thereafter. Adult mortality may
be over 90%, with virtually complete annual turnover of adults in some populations.
Spring adult densities range from 30 to 83
per ha (8 to 33 per ac) depending on year and location. Juvenile densities
are greatest in July, ranging from 150 to 297 per ha (60 to 119 per ac) and decline
thereafter. Juvenile mortality is 80 to 85%.
Territory: Both male and female side-blotched lizards defend home ranges.
Aggressiveness declines during the winter months in favored winter retreats
where food may also be concentrated.
Reproduction: The breeding season lasts from March to August. Mating occurs
from April to May; egg deposition occurs from late April to August. Females store
sperm for delayed fertilization. Side-blotched lizards are monogamous.
Clutch size is positively related to size of female, winter rainfall and spring annual
production, and inversely related to season and density. Clutch size varies from 1
to 8 eggs (av = 4). One to 7 clutches per year are produced. Hatchlings
appear from June to late September. Development time also decreases
with season and is 61 to 77 days. Males and
females reproduce the first spring following hatching at approximately 43 mm (1.72 in)
snout-vent length.
Niche: Predators of side-blotched lizards are numerous, resulting in high mortality.
Snake predators include
rattlesnakes
and
sidewinders,
coachwhips racers,
gopher snakes,
kingsnakes,
patch-nosed snakes, long-nosed snakes and night snakes. Lizards
that eat side-blotched lizards include
whiptails,
desert spiny
and
leopard lizards.
Burrowing owls,
American kestrels,
roadrunners, and
loggerhead shrikes
also eat
side-blotched lizards.
Source:
CDFW California Wildlife Habitat Relationships. Accessed [N/A]
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CWHR
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Common side-blotched lizard
Side-blotched lizard distribution map
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