# Granite Spiny Lizard

*Sceloporus orcutti*

Dominant males develop brilliant, iridescent blue patches on their throats and bellies to display during territorial push-up contests.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Reptilia › Squamata › Phrynosomatidae › Sceloporus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** desert
- **Habitat:** Granite rock outcrops, chaparral, desert scrub, and rocky hillsides.
- **Diet:** Insects, spiders, centipedes, and occasionally small buds or flowers.
- **Range:** Southern California, Baja California
- **Size:** 6-9 inches (15-23 cm) total length
- **Lifespan:** 5-8 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat fragmentation, urban development, and predation by domestic cats.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless and wary. Keep a respectful distance of 3-5 feet to observe their beautiful colors. If handled, they may pinch with a minor bite; if bitten, simply wash the area with soap and water.

## About

The granite spiny lizard ( Sceloporus orcutti ) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/cf6c015c-8c3e-4461-afb7-87f25b2448e3
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/36198
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sceloporus orcutti
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/13043377/medium.jpeg (no rights reserved, CC0, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.