ExploreReptiles

Common Side-blotched Lizard

Uta stansburiana

The Common Side-blotched Lizard is small and colorful, with a unique side blotch pattern. It loves to sunbathe on rocks.

Habitat: Dry habitats like deserts and grasslands.

Appearance

The Common Side-blotched Lizard is a small, slender reptile, typically grey or brown with blotches, spots, or stripes for camouflage. It has granular scales and a distinctive dark blue or black blotch behind each front leg, giving it its name. Males often display colorful throat patches.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderLacertiliaFamilyPhrynosomatidaeGenusUta
Common Side-blotched Lizard
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Common Side-blotched Lizard

Category

Reptiles

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

68

Interesting facts

A female can lay up to five clutches of eggs in a single breeding season, that's a lot of babies!

Males display different throat colors—orange, blue, or yellow—each with a unique fighting style!

These tiny lizards eat their own shed skin, recycling valuable nutrients back into their bodies!

They do impressive 'push-ups' to show off their strength and territory to other lizards!

Special abilities

Ability

Tail Escape

Common Side-blotched Lizards can drop their tail (autotomy) because of special fracture planes, helping them escape predators while the tail wiggles to distract.

Ability

Sun-Powered Camouflage

Common Side-blotched Lizards have varying skin patterns and colors that help them blend seamlessly into their rocky or sandy habitats, avoiding detection.

Ability

Color Code Communication

Male Common Side-blotched Lizards have throat colors (orange, blue, or yellow) that act like unique signals, helping them communicate dominance and mating strategies.

Measurements & details

Length
4-15 cm
Weight
0.002-0.007 kg
Lifespan
2-5 years
Top Speed
20 km/h
Clutch Size
1-8
Incubation
35-55 days

Diet & Feeding

These tiny lizards are insectivores, mostly munching on small insects and spiders they find.

Primary Foods

  • Ants
  • Beetles
  • Spiders
  • Crickets
  • Flies

Foraging Method

  • Ambush

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

Side-blotched Lizard

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Common Side-blotched Lizard?

The easiest way to identify Common Side-blotched Lizard is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Common Side-blotched Lizard?

4-15 cm

How much does Common Side-blotched Lizard weigh?

0.002-0.007 kg

How long does Common Side-blotched Lizard live?

2-5 years

How fast can Common Side-blotched Lizard move?

20 km/h

What does Common Side-blotched Lizard eat?

These tiny lizards are insectivores, mostly munching on small insects and spiders they find.

Where is Common Side-blotched Lizard usually found?

Dry habitats like deserts and grasslands.

How does Common Side-blotched Lizard hunt?

Ambush

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