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Home/Species/ Granite Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus orcutti

Stejneger, 1893

Granite Spiny Lizard

G5Secure Found in 20 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104024
Element CodeARACF14100
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
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 Date2005-07-25
Change Date1996-10-28
Edition Date2005-07-25
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 extends from the northern side of San Gorgonio Pass on the lower slopes of the Peninsular Ranges in southern California south to near La Paz in southern Baja California, including several islands in the Gulf of California (Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003). Elevational range extends from sea level to about 7,000 feet (2,130 meters).
Occurrences Comments
Weintraub (1980) mapped 37 collection sites in Baja California and 22 in southern California. These represent at least a few dozen distinct occurrences. Many additional occurrences undoubtedly exist.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known. Locally, in southern California, some habitat has been degraded by urbanization.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This lizard inhabits granite outcrops in chaparral and on oak-covered slopes on the coastal side of the mountains in southern California; it also ranges into yellow pine habitat (Stebbins 2003). On the desert side, it occurs in rocky canyons and on rocks of upper alluvial slopes with chaparral, palms, or mesquite (Stebbins 2003). Habitats in Baja California include pinyon-juniper woodland and subtropical thornforest (Stebbins 2003). This species generally is associated with rocks, but in some locations it also climbs into vegetation (e.g., agaves, palms, willows) or occurs on the ground among shrubs (Grismer 2002). Probably it buries its eggs in the soil.

Reproduction

Lays a clutch of 6-15 eggs May-July.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralBare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
Roadless Areas (20)
California (20)
AreaForestAcres
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
References (11)
  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. 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.
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. 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]
  6. Grismer, L. L. 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Baja California including its Pacific islands and islands in the Sea of Cortes. University of California Press, Berkeley. xiii + 399 pp.
  7. 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.
  8. Stebbins, R. C. 1954a. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.
  9. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  10. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  11. Weintraub, J.D. 1980. <i>Sceloporus orcutti</i>. Cat. Am. Amph. Rep. 265.1-265.2.