The California rock lizards are a genus (Petrosaurus) of New World lizards in the family Phrynosomatidae.[1]
They are endemic to southern California, United States, and Baja California and Baja California Sur, Mexico.[2]
This lizard species lives almost exclusively on rock outcrops, boulder piles, and canyon walls, where it shelters under rocks. Their habitat consists of arid and semiarid foothills and canyons along the western margin of the Colorado Desert.[3]
The courtship begins shortly after emergence in early spring. The eggs are laid around June and July.
The few predators that could pursue this lizard are collared lizards and avian predators, such as hawks, ravens, and roadrunners.
The genus Petrosaurus contains four species.
| Image | Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrosaurus mearnsi (Stejneger, 1894) | banded rock lizard | southern California, United States, and Baja California, Mexico | |
| Petrosaurus repens (Van Denburgh, 1895) | Baja California and Baja California Sur, Mexico | ||
| Petrosaurus slevini (Van Denburgh, 1922) | banded rock lizard | Baja California, Mexico | |
| Petrosaurus thalassinus (Cope, 1863) | Baja blue rock lizard[4] | Baja California Sur, Mexico | |