# Yarrow's Spiny Lizard (*sceloporus jarrovii*) Yarrow's Spiny Lizard is an exceptionally resilient and striking reptile native to the rugged mountainous regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Thriving in rocky canyons and oak-pine forests at high elevations, this lizard is celebrated for its remarkable adaptations to cold environments. Unlike many of its egg-laying relatives, this species gives birth to live young, which is a critical strategy for survival in frosty montane climates. Observing these lizards is a delight for nature enthusiasts as they are highly active during the day, frequently seen basking on boulder faces, rock crevices, or tree trunks. With a bold disposition, they defend territories using energetic push-up displays, revealing flashes of brilliant blue on their undersides. Their ability to tolerate chilly temperatures makes them one of the few reptiles active on sunny winter days, adding a touch of vibrant life to the mountain slopes year-round. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Found in rocky montane habitats, such as canyon walls, talus slopes, and boulder piles within oak-pine forests at high elevations. ![Yarrow's Spiny Lizard](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/423157/medium.jpg) Photo: Juan Cruzado Cortés, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/423157) ## Appearance This medium-sized lizard is easily identified by its heavily keeled, pointed, and spiny scales that give it a rough, armored appearance. It features a conspicuous black collar around its neck, bordered by crisp white or light-yellow bands. The base coloration ranges from greenish-blue to dark grey, often speckled with pale blue, yellow, or green spots. Males are particularly stunning, sporting bright metallic-blue patches on their throat and the sides of their belly, which intensify during the breeding season. They reach an average total length of 11 to 24 centimeters, including their long, tapered tail. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Reptilia - **Order:** Squamata - **Family:** Phrynosomatidae - **Genus:** Sceloporus ## Interesting facts - Because they live in cold mountain heights, they can remain active even during sunny winter days when other reptiles are completely dormant. - They are known as mood ring lizards because they can rapidly change their color from dark charcoal to vibrant metallic blue depending on the temperature and their social interactions. - To defend their territory or woo mates, males perform rhythmic push-up displays, flashing their bright blue throat and belly patches to communicate from afar. ## Special abilities - **Thermoregulatory Color Shifting:** They can darken their skin in the cool morning hours to absorb more solar radiation, shifting to a lighter, reflective color as temperatures rise. - **High-Altitude Viviparity:** Unlike most lizards that lay eggs, they give birth to fully formed live young, protecting the embryos from freezing mountain temperatures. - **Tail Autotomy:** When threatened by a predator, they can self-amputate their tail, which continues to wiggle and distract the predator while the lizard escapes. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 11-24 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.04 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-6 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-15 - **Incubation:** 150-180 days ## Diet & Feeding They primarily feed on a wide variety of terrestrial insects and spiders, hunting actively along rocky surfaces during the day. - **Age differences:** Juveniles consume smaller soft-bodied insects like aphids and small flies, whereas adults can tackle larger, hard-shelled beetles and wasps. - **Primary Foods:** Ants, Beetles, Wasps, Spiders, Caterpillars - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Preys upon these lizards when they bask openly on exposed rock surfaces. - **Hunts:** Arizona Carpenter Ant (*Camponotus sansabeanus*) — Serves as a high-abundance food source for the lizard on forest floors and rock crevices. - **Competitor:** [Ornate Tree Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ornate-tree-lizard) (*Urosaurus ornatus*) — Competes for basking spots, territories, and small insect prey in overlapping montane habitats. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Yarrow's Spiny 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 Yarrow's Spiny Lizard? 11-24 cm ### How much does Yarrow's Spiny Lizard weigh? 0.01-0.04 kg ### How long does Yarrow's Spiny Lizard live? 3-6 years ### How fast can Yarrow's Spiny Lizard move? 15 km/h ### What does Yarrow's Spiny Lizard eat? They primarily feed on a wide variety of terrestrial insects and spiders, hunting actively along rocky surfaces during the day. ### Where is Yarrow's Spiny Lizard usually found? Found in rocky montane habitats, such as canyon walls, talus slopes, and boulder piles within oak-pine forests at high elevations. ### How does Yarrow's Spiny Lizard hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Chiricahua National Monument Historic Designed Landscape](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chiricahua-national-monument-historic-designed-landscape) — Arizona, US · National Park - [Faraway Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/faraway-ranch-historic-district) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [Madera Canyon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/madera-canyon) — Arizona, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see Yarrow's Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/yarrows-spiny-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: [Yarrow's Spiny Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yarrows-spiny-lizard)