Help with identification of a lizard from Bryce Canyon (Utah, USA) (1 Viewer)

[arodris]

Hi,

I need help to identify the lizard in the image. The picture was taken in Bryce Canyon (Mossy Cave Trail), Utah, USA, on August 25th, 2009. I think that it can be a sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus graciosus), but in fact I am not really sure.

Thanks in advance.

Antonio

 

[Philter4]

It is one of the three spiny lizards in the genus Sceloporus, either S. undulatus, S. magister or S. graciosus.

I can almost rule out magister because they are really dark, the common name is desert spiny lizard, but it could be either undulatus, the eastern fence lizard, or graciosus the sagebrush lizard. I would guess a female graciosus because if you look really closely you can see pink sides, if that is the photo or my eyes I still think my ID is pretty good by the fact that it is in the foliage rather then granite or rock and sagebrush is the preferred habitat that gives it's name.