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Sceloporus virgatus

Smith, 1938

Striped Plateau Lizard

G4Apparently Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105493
Element CodeARACF14150
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyPhrynosomatidae
GenusSceloporus
Other Common Names
striped plateau lizard (EN)
Concept Reference
Sites, J. W., Jr., J.W. Archie, C.J. Cole and O. Flores-Villela. 1992. A review of phylogenetic hypotheses for lizards of the genus Sceleporus (Phrynosomatidae): implications for ecological and evolutionary studies. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. (213):1-110.
Taxonomic Comments
Tennessen and Zamudio (2008) presented evidence of high genetic divergence and, for the most part, reciprocal monophyly in mtDNA haplotypes among populations of S. virgatus from the Chiricahua, Animas, Peloncillo, and San Luis mountain ranges, suggesting isolation of those populations for hundreds of thousands to millions of years and the possibility of intrinsic reproductive barriers (Crother 2017).
Conservation Status
Review Date2005-08-22
Change Date1996-10-28
Edition Date2005-08-22
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 300
Range Extent Comments
The range encompasses extreme southeastern Arizona and extreme southwestern New Mexico (Chiricahua, Peloncillo, Guadalupe, and Animas mountains) and areas to the south in the Sierra Madre Occidental to at least southern Chihuahua, into Mexico (Stebbins 2003). It occurs as geographically isolated montane "island" populations, particularly in the northern part of the range (Cole 1968). Elevational range is 1,490-3,080 meters (4,900-10,000 feet) (Stebbins 2003).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by at least several dozen distinct occurrences. Cole (1968) mapped 4 locations in Arizona, 4 in New Mexico, 5 in Sonora, and 12 in Chihuahua. Degenhardt et al. (1996) mapped 8 locations in New Mexico.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats have been identified.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This is a montane species that is most abundant in mixed pine and oak woods (e.g., wooded canyons and ravines), but it ranges upward into pine forest and downward in oak woodland along streams (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Stebbins 2003); typically it is found on the ground among rocks, logs, leaf litter, and scattered grasses, or near sandy, rocky intermittent streams, but it readily climbs (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Stebbins 2003). In southeastern Arizona, individuals generally perch on rocks, rarely on trees (Smith 1996).

Ecology

Males establish territories during breeding season.

Reproduction

In southeastern Arizona, copulates May-early June, lays one clutch of 5-15 eggs (mean 10) in June-July (peak in early July); females mature at 50 mm SVL; all females are reproductive after the second winter; a small proportion of first-year females breed; life history traits vary primarily in response to variation in rainfall, which affects arthropod abundance (Stebbins 1985; Smith et al. 1995, Herpetologica 51:342-349; Smith 1996).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - Mixed
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
ArizonaS2Yes
New MexicoS3Yes
Roadless Areas (2)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
References (14)
  1. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  2. Cole, C. J. 1968. <i>Sceloporus virgatus</i>. Cat. Am. Amph. Rep. 72.1-72.2.
  3. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  4. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  5. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  6. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  7. Degenhardt, W. G., C. W. Painter, and A. H. Price. 1996. Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. xix + 431 pp.
  8. Sites, J. W., Jr., J.W. Archie, C.J. Cole and O. Flores-Villela. 1992. A review of phylogenetic hypotheses for lizards of the genus <i>Sceleporus</i> (Phrynosomatidae): implications for ecological and evolutionary studies. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. (213):1-110.
  9. Smith, D. C. 1985. Home range and territory in the striped plateau lizard (<i>Sceloporus virgatus</i>). Animal Behaviour 33:417-427.
  10. Smith, G. R. 1996a. Annual life-history variation in the striped plateau lizard, <i>Sceloporus virgatus</i>. Canadian Journal of Zoology 74:2025-2030.
  11. Smith, G. R. 1996b. Habitat use and fidelity in the striped plateau lizard <i>Sceloporus virgatus</i>. American Midland Naturalist 135:68-80.
  12. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  13. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  14. Tennessen, J. A., and K. R. Zamudio. 2008. Genetic differentiation among mountain island populations of the striped plateau lizard, <i>Sceloporus virgatus</i> (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Copeia 2008(3):558-564.