User:Shreya.Narang

banded rock lizard
	Petrosaurus mearnsi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Lacertilia
Family:	Phrynosomatidae
Genus:	Petrosaurus
Species:	P. mearnsi
Binomial name
	Petrosaurus mearnsi; (Stejneger, 1894)
Synonyms
	Uta mearnsi Stejneger, 1894; Streptosaurus mearnsi ; — Mittleman, 1942; Petrosaurus mearnsi ; — Stebbins, 1985;

The banded rock lizard (Petrosaurus mearnsi) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard.

Etymology

The specific name, mearnsi, is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens.^[2]^[3]

Geographic range

It is endemic to extreme southern California and Baja California, Mexico.^[4]

Description

Petrosaurus mearnsi is an extremely flat-bodied lizard. Its dorsum is olive, brown or gray, with white or bluish spots. It has a single black collar, a banded tail, and granular scales on its body, with keeled tail and limb scales. Individuals may be 6.2 to 8.7 cm (2.4 to 3.4 in) long snout-to-vent. Males have more pronounced throat patterns and brighter blue coloring than females.

Habitat

These lizards are associated with boulder hillsides.

Diet

They are omnivorous, feeding not only on insects and spiders, but also on buds and flowers.^[5]

Reproduction

Gravid females lay eggs from June through August. Clutch size varies from 2 to 6 eggs.^[5]

References

This article is based on a description from "A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California", Robert N. Fisher and Ted J. Case, USGS, http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide/index.htm.

^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
^ Beltz, Ellin. 2006. Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained. ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html.
^ Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore. xiii + 312 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Petrosaurus mearnsi, p. 174.)
^ Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Streptosaurus mearnsi, pp. 110-111.)
^ ^a ^b Stebbins, R.C. 2003. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series®. Houghton Mifflin. Boston and New York. xiii + 533 pp. ISBN 0-395-98272-3 (paperback). (Petrosaurus mearnsi, pp. 298-299 + Plate 32 + Map 100.)

Category:Phrynosomatids Category:Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands Category:Reptiles of the United States

This lizard article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

[2] Beltz, Ellin. 2006. Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained. ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html.

[3] Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore. xiii + 312 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Petrosaurus mearnsi, p. 174.)

[4] Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Streptosaurus mearnsi, pp. 110-111.)

[Stbns2003-5] Stebbins, R.C. 2003. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series®. Houghton Mifflin. Boston and New York. xiii + 533 pp. ISBN 0-395-98272-3 (paperback). (Petrosaurus mearnsi, pp. 298-299 + Plate 32 + Map 100.)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]