# 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. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 68 - **Habitat:** Dry habitats like deserts and grasslands. - **Also known as:** Side-blotched Lizard ![Common Side-blotched Lizard](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425719/objects/5614.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Phrynosomatidae - **Genus:** Uta ## 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 - **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. - **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. - **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 - **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 - **Eaten by:** [Gopher Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-snake) (*Pituophis catenifer*) — A common snake predator in its habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A bird of prey that hunts small reptiles. - **Eats:** Silky Ant (*Formica fusca*) — A common prey item for the lizard. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## 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? 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 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 ## Where to spot - [Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/antelope-valley-california-poppy-reserve-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Cabrillo National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrillo-national-monument) — California, US · National Park - [Colorado National Monument Visitor Center Complex](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colorado-national-monument-visitor-center-complex) — Colorado, US · National Park - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Common Side-blotched Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-side-blotched-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 Side-blotched Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-side-blotched-lizard)