A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

Click on a picture for a larger view

Comparison of Western Fence Lizards - Sceloporus occidentalis,
with Common Sagebrush Lizards - Sceloporus graciosus,
Found in California

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.
Western Fence Lizards have larger keeled scales on the back than Common Sagebrush Lizards.


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

The Common Sagebrush Lizard has overlapping scales with sharp spines on the back.	The Western Fence Lizard has larger overlapping scales with longer spines on the back.

Fence Lizards have Keeled scales on the back of their thighs. Sagebrush Lizards have smaller granular scales on the backs of their thighs.


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.	Close-up of the keeled scales on the rear thigh of a Western Fence Lizard.	Close-up of the granular scales on the rear thigh of a Common Sagebrush Lizard.

Common Sagebrush Lizards Have a Black Bar on the Shoulder


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

Common Sagebrush Lizards Have Rusty Coloring in the Armpits


Sagebrush Lizards sometimes have rusty coloring behind the front legs which is not present on Western Fence Lizards.

Western Fence Lizards

Western Fence Lizards Have Yellow Coloring on the Back of the Thighs.


Western Fence Lizards usually have yellow or orange coloring on the back of the thighs which is not present on Common Sagebrush Lizards.

	Common Sagebrush Lizard

Comparison Photos


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

The Northern California Herpetological Society website also has a great comparison page you can use: Distinguishing Between Western Fence Lizards and Common Sagebrush Lizards.