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Home/Species/ Texas Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus olivaceus

Smith, 1934

Texas Spiny Lizard

G5Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104023
Element CodeARACF14090
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
Texas spiny 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.
Conservation Status
Review Date2005-07-20
Change Date1996-10-28
Edition Date2005-07-20
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
The range includes Texas and adjacent northeastern Mexico, to as far south as southern Tamaulipas, central Nuevo Leon, and San Luis Potosi (Kennedy 1973, Conant and Collins 1991, Bartlett and Bartlett 1999, Dixon 2000).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by well over 100 collection sites (e.g., see Kennedy 1973). It has been found in virtually every county (>100) within its range in Texas (see Dixon 2000).
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats have been identified.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This primarily arboreal lizard occurs on mesquite, oak, and other trees, and on buildings, fences, and bridges; it is often associated with scrub vegetation (Smith 1946, Kennedy 1973, Bartlett and Bartlett 1999). Eggs are laid in soil/underground.

Ecology

See Blair (1960).

Reproduction

Lays 1-4 clutches averaging 14.3 eggs in spring and summer; older females lay more clutches and more eggs/clutch than do young females; sexually mature in one year (Fitch 1970).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodShrubland/chaparralSuburban/orchard
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
TexasS5Yes
Roadless Areas (3)
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
References (12)
  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. Blair, W. F. 1960. The rusty lizard. A population study. Univ. Texas Press, Austin. xvi + 185 pp.
  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. Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 616 pp.
  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. 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]
  8. Fitch, H. S. 1970. Reproductive cycles of lizards and snakes. Univ. Kansas Museum Natural History Miscellaneous Publication 52:1-247.
  9. Kennedy, J. P. 1973. <i>Sceloporus olivaceus</i>. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 143:1-4.
  10. 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.
  11. Smith, H. M. 1946. Handbook of lizards. Lizards of the United States and Canada. Cornell univ. Press, Ithaca. xxi + 557 pp.
  12. Smith, H. M., D. Chiszar, and W. Marmie. 1991. Peripheral variation in the lizard <i>Sceloporus olivaceus</i>, and its hybridization with <i>S. undulatus</i>. Bull. Maryland Herp. Soc. 27(3):128-145.