# Common Sagebrush Lizard (*sceloporus graciosus*) The Common Sagebrush Lizard is a small and colorful lizard that loves to bask in the sun! With its amazing ability to change colors, it can blend into its surroundings and avoid predators. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** They live in sagebrush deserts and dry grasslands across the western United States. - **Also known as:** Sagebrush Lizard, Western Sagebrush Lizard ![Common Sagebrush Lizard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sceloporus_graciosus_az.jpg&width=800) Photo: Geographer ( talk ), CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sceloporus_graciosus_az.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Sagebrush Lizard is typically gray, tan, or brown with dark blotches or stripes that help it blend in. Males often display vibrant blue patches on their throat and belly, especially during breeding season. Its scales are granular, giving it a somewhat rough appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Phrynosomatidae - **Genus:** Sceloporus ## Interesting facts - Each sagebrush lizard has unique markings, just like human fingerprints! - They swallow sand to help digest their food and get important minerals! - This lizard can do push-ups to show off to other lizards! - To warm up, they angle their bodies perfectly to catch the sun's rays! ## Special abilities - **Camouflage Power:** Common Sagebrush Lizard can blend perfectly into its rocky and sandy surroundings because of its mottled skin patterns that help them hide from predators. - **Tail Escape:** Common Sagebrush Lizard can detach its tail when caught by a predator, because the wiggling tail distracts the attacker, allowing them to escape. - **UV Vision:** Common Sagebrush Lizard has special eyes that can see ultraviolet light, which helps them find food and spot other lizards. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.01 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 18 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-10 - **Incubation:** 45-75 days ## Diet & Feeding Mostly eats small insects and spiders, but will snack on plants and even other tiny lizards! - **Primary Foods:** ants, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, small caterpillars, some plant matter - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Silky Ant (*Formica fusca*) — A common prey item for young lizards. - **Hunts:** [House Cricket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-cricket) (*Acheta domesticus*) — A common insect prey in its habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Prairie Rattlesnake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/prairie-rattlesnake) (*Crotalus viridis*) — A primary predator of these small lizards. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Hunts lizards from the sky. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Sagebrush Lizard? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Sagebrush Lizard? 10-20 cm ### How much does Common Sagebrush Lizard weigh? 0.002-0.01 kg ### How long does Common Sagebrush Lizard live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Common Sagebrush Lizard move? 18 km/h ### What does Common Sagebrush Lizard eat? Mostly eats small insects and spiders, but will snack on plants and even other tiny lizards! ### Where is Common Sagebrush Lizard usually found? They live in sagebrush deserts and dry grasslands across the western United States. ### How does Common Sagebrush Lizard hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-lodge-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-national-park-scenic-trails-historic-district) — Utah, US · Trail - [Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mono-lake-tufa-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bighorn-canyon-national-recreation-area) — Montana, US · National Park - [Lehman Orchard and Aqueduct](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lehman-orchard-and-aqueduct) — Nevada, US · Historic District - [Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/manzanita-lake-naturalists-services-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District [View all places to see Common Sagebrush Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-sagebrush-lizard) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Common Sagebrush Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-sagebrush-lizard)