These species look very much alike. Both are small brownish lizards with keeled "spiny" scales that reach about the same length of 3.5 inches (9 cm) but there are a few differences that can be observed if you can see a lizard in hand or close-up.
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Western Fence Lizards have larger keeled scales on the back than Sagebrush Lizards. |
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Dorsal view - Common Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus, on the left, Western Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, on the right. Note the larger dorsal scales on the Fence Lizard.
© Patrick Briggs |
Head view - Common Sagebrush Lizard on the left, Western Fence Lizard on the right. © Patrick Briggs |
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Sagebrush Lizards have overlapping scales with sharp spines on the back. |
Western Fence Lizards have larger overlapping scales with longer spines on the back. |
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Fence Lizards have Keeled scales on the back of their thighs.
Sagebrush Lizards have smaller granular scales on the backs of their thighs. |
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 |
 |
Comparison of the rear thighs of a Common Sagebrush Lizard - on top, and a Western Fence Lizard - on the bottom.
Note the granular scales on the Common Sagebrush Lizard and the keeled orange (sometimes yellow) scales on the Western Fence Lizard.
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Close-up of the keeled scales on the rear thigh of a Western Fence Lizard.
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Close-up of the granular scales on the rear thigh of a Common Sagebrush Lizard. |
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Sagebrush Lizards Have a Black Bar on the Shoulder |
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 |
 |
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Sagebrush Lizards have a black mark on the sides in front of the forelimb that is not present on most Western Fence Lizards.
(Some Fence Lizards in Northern California have a black mark, but it is not as well-defined as it is on the Sagebrush Lizard.) |
 |
 |
 |
Western Fence Lizards |
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Sagebrush Lizards Have Rusty Coloring in the Armpits |
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 |
 |
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Sagebrush Lizards sometimes have rusty coloring behind the front legs
which is not present on Western Fence Lizards. |
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 |
 |
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Western Fence Lizards |
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Western Fence Lizards Have Yellow Coloring on the Back of the Thighs. |
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 |
 |
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Western Fence Lizards usually have yellow or orange coloring
on the
back of the thighs which is not present on Common Sagebrush Lizards. |
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 |
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Common Sagebrush Lizard |
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Comparison Photos |
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Common Sagebrush Lizard (left)
Great Basin Fence Lizard (right) |
Ventral view - Western Fence Lizard on the left, Common Sagebrush Lizard on the right. Note the yellow on the back of the thighs on the Western Fence Lizard.
© Patrick Briggs |
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The Northern California Herpetological Society website also has a great comparison page you can use:
Distinguishing Between Western Fence Lizards and Common Sagebrush Lizards. |
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