A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

Click on a picture for a larger view

Small Spiny Lizards Found in California

Western Fence Lizards and Common Sagebrush Lizards
These two species of lizards are very hard to tell apart from a distance. Both are small, diurnal, brownish or grayish lizards patterned with spots and chevrons and stripes on the back that are about the same size. The pictures below might help you differrentiate one from the other where they occur together, especially if you can get a male lizard in hand. In many areas of the state, Common Sagebrush Lizards are typically found only at high elevations, while Western Fence Lizards are found at low and high elevations. Click the link directly below to see a more detailed comparison.

Differences Between the Western Fence Lizard and the Sagebrush Lizard in California

Western Fence Lizard - Sceloporus occidentalis
This is one of the most commonly-seen lizards in California. Found in a variety of habitats throughout the state, except most desert areas, it is active during daylight. Frequently seen standing on top of rocks, boulders, fences, walls, beach driftwood, trees, as well as on the ground. Often found around suburban houses and yards. Looking at the underside of males is a good way to differentiate this species from the Sagebrush Lizard. The rear of the limbs are orange or yellow on the Fence Lizard, but not on the Sagebrush Lizard, and scales on the rear of the thighs are large and keeled. Also, the male has a more solid blue patch on the throat.


Male	Male	Female

Sometimes fence lizards are very dark before they have warmed up in the sun, like this one. They can look like they're completely black at a distance. © Dylan Gross	Ventral view of male Western Fence Lizard, showing yellow on rear of thighs.
Researchers are finding that the traditional taxonomy of Sceloporus occidentalis is incorrect, therefore many herpetologists do not currently break the species down into subspecies. The range map below is one interpretation of the distribution of the currently-recognized subspecies, based mostly on Ryan Calsbeek's distribution map.

Range: Bright Green: Sceloporus occidentalis becki - Island Fence Lizard Light Blue: Sceloporus occidentalis biseriatus - San Joaquin Fence Lizard Blue: Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii - Coast Range Fence Lizard Orange: Sceloporus occidentalis longipes - Great Basin Fence Lizard Red: Sceloporus occidentalis occidentalis - Northwestern Fence Lizard Dark Gray: Sceloporus occidentalis taylori - Sierra Fence Lizard

Common Sagebrush Lizard - Sceloporus graciosus
Common Sagebrush lizards are generally found at higher-elevations, than Fence Lizards, including the Great Basin sagebrush zones, but they also enter river bottoms in the coastal redwoods on the north coast. They are often seen on the ground, where they will run into bushes or rocks to hide. They are also found on large rocks in the mountains. Looking at the underside of males is a good way to differentiate this species from the Western Fence Lizard. The rear of the limbs are not orange or yellow, as they are on the Western Fence Lizard, and the scales on the rear of the thighs are granular, not keeped. The blue throat patch on the male generally has light flecks. There is usually some rusty coloring on the sides of the neck and body, and a black bar on the shoulder. Here is a chart showing some differences in scale count and pattern between the three subspecies of Sagebrush Lizards in California.

Female	Male	Rusty coloring behind front legs

Male underside	Male underside	Female underside

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

Range: Red: Sceloporus graciosus graciosus - Northern Sagebrush Lizard Orange: Sceloporus graciosus gracilis - Western Sagebrush Lizard Blue: Sceloporus graciosus vandenburgianus - Southern Sagebrush Lizard

Return to the Top