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Side-blotched lizard

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	Side-blotched lizard
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	Topics Side-blotched lizard Topic Home Side-blotched lizards are lizardLizard Overview Lizards are reptiles of the order Squamata, which they share with the snakes .... s of the genusFacts About Genus In the binomial nomenclature used worldwide, the name of an organism is composed of two parts: its genus name and a species... Uta. They are some of the most abundant and commonly observed lizards in the deserts of western North AmericaNorth America North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere.... . They commonly grow to six inches including the tail, with the males normally being the larger sex. As well, males often have bright throat colors, ranging from blue to orange. During the breeding season, the male's tails turn blue, probably to attract females. These lizards are territorial, with each male holding from one to several females in his territory. The males will even boldly approach a human intruder, to give his female(s) a chance to escape. When she is safe, he will join her in a hole, or under a rock. These lizards are a prey item for many desert species. Snakes, lizards and birds all make formidable predators to side-blotched lizards. Larger lizard species -- such as collared, leopard, and spiny lizards -- and roadrunners are the main predators. In turn, the side-blotched lizards eat insects, spiders, arthropods, and an occasional scorpion. As a result of their high predation rate, these lizards are very prolific breeders. From April to June they breed, with the young emerging as early as late May. These inch-long young appear all through the summer, and into September. The diploid chromosomeChromosome A chromosome is a large macromolecule into which DNA is normally packaged in a cell.... number in most if not all species is 34, consisting of 12 macro- and 22 microchromosomes. Systematics The systematicsSystematics In biology systematics is the study of the diversity of organism characteristics, and especially how they relate evolutionar... and phylogeny of the side-blotched lizards is very confusing, with many local forms and morphs having been described as full species. Following the 1997 review of Upton & Murphy which included new data from mtDNA cytochrome bCytochrome b Cytochrome b/b6 is main subunit of transmembrane cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes.... and ATPaseATPase ATPases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the decomposition of adenosine triphosphate into adenosine diphosphate and a fr... 6 sequencesDNA sequence A DNA sequence or genetic sequence is a succession of letters representing the primary structure of a real or hypothet... , the following species can be recognized pending further research: Eastern Side-blotched Lizard, Uta stejnegeri - formerly included in U. stansburiana San Pedro Martir Side-blotched Lizard, Uta palmeri Angel de la Guarda Side-blotched Lizard Salsipuedes Side-blotched Lizard, Uta antiqua - formerly included in U. stansburiana Santa Catalina Side-blotched Lizard, Uta squamata - sometimes included in U. stansburiana San Esteban Side-blotched Lizard (undescribed species, formerly included in U. stansburiana) San Pedro Nolasco Side-blotched Lizard, Uta nolascensis Common Side-blotched LizardFacts About Common side-blotched lizard The Common Side-blotched Lizard is a species of Side-blotched Lizard common on the Pacific coast of North America, from Wash... , Uta stansburiana Western Side-blotched Lizard, Uta (stansburiana) elegans Enchanted Side-blotched Lizard, Uta encantadae - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana El Muerto Side-blotched Lizard, Uta lowei - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana Swollen-nosed Side-blotched Lizard, Uta tumidarostra - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana Socorro Side-blotched Lizard, Uta auriculata - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana Clarion Side-blotched Lizard, Uta clarionensis - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana Ornate Side-blotched Lizard, Uta mannophora - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana Uta stellata and U. concinna are nowadays usually considered a subspecies of U. stansburiana. U. encantadae, U. lowei and U. tumidarostra might be subspecies of a distinct species instead. Similarly, U. auriculata and U. clarionensis might be subspecies of a single species, the Revillagigedo Side-blotched Lizard.