Sceloporus woodi

Branch et al. (2003) found strong phylogeographic structuring in S. woodi, with mtDNA of lizards from populations occupying different major scrub archipelagos differing by 2.0–8.0% and likely qualifying as evolutionarily significant units. Hybridization between S. woodi and S. undulatus does not appear to be threatening the existence of either species (Robbins et al. 2014) (Crother 2017).

In the past, some authors have questioned whether S. woodi is sufficiently differentiated from S. undulatus to be considered a distinct species.
See Sites et al. (1992) for a review of phylogenetic hypotheses for lizards of the genus Sceloporus.

The Florida scrub lizard is endemic to a portion of the Florida peninsula, where it specializes in scrub and other xeric habitats. The species continues to be threatened by habitat loss and degradation throughout its range (Enge et al. 2018). Resulting habitat fragmentation further threatens the species through reductions in gene flow and population viability (Clark et al. 1999, McCoy et al. 2004, Tucker et al. 2014, Orton 2017). Following long-term declines, efforts to conserve scrub habitat have helped to stabilize scrub lizard populations over the last few decades (Enge et al. 2018).

Using the 122 extant occurrences in the FNAI database, GeoCat calculated Extent of Occurrence to be 26,719 sq. km. Occurs in scrubs on central and Atlantic coastal ridges. Major centers of distribution include Ocala National Forest (Marion County) and the remaining Lake Wales Ridge scrubs of Polk and Highlands counties. Smaller populations occur along the southeastern Atlantic coast. Presumably extirpated from the Gulf coast where it was formerly known from Lee and Collier Counties, and extirpated south of Jupiter Ridge Natural Area in Palm Beach and Broward Counties (Enge et al. 2018).

As of 2020, there are 122 extant element occurrences in the FNAI database.

The greatest threat to Florida scrub lizards continues to be habitat loss (Enge et al. 2018). An estimated 85% of scrub habitat has been lost along the Lake Wales Ridge, mostly to conversion for agriculture and development (Turner et al. 2006, FNAI 2018). The threat of habitat loss to development remains high along the Atlantic coast, where some of the last remaining patches of habitat are for sale (Enge et al. 2018). Where scrub habitat remains, habitat alteration continues to affect this species negatively (Kaunert and McBrayer 2015). Fire suppression, planting of dense sand pine (Pinus clausa) plantations, clearcutting, roller-chopping, and encroachment by invasive species all reduce scrub habitat quality (Kaunert and McBrayer 2015). Suitable scrubs, those with abundant exposed sand openings, have become increasingly fragmented (Hokit et al. 1999). Habitat fragmentation threatens remaining populations because of low dispersal ability, often < 200 meters, making recolonization or gene flow unlikely beyond this distance (Clark et al. 1999, Hokit et al. 1999, McCoy et al. 2004, Heath et al. 2012, Tucker et al. 2014).