Petrosaurus mearnsi explained

Petrosaurus mearnsi, also called the banded rock lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to western North America.

Etymology

The specific name, mearnsi, is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens.^{[1] [2]}

Geographic range

P. mearnsi is endemic to extreme southern California and Baja California, Mexico.^[3] It also occurs on Isla El Muerto.

Description

P. 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 6.2to long snout-to-vent. Males have more pronounced throat patterns and brighter blue coloring than females.^[4]

Habitat

P. mearnsi is associated with boulder hillsides,^[4] extending in Baja California to chaparral and pinyon-juniper woodlands.

Diet

P. mearnsi is omnivorous, feeding not only on insects and spiders, but also on buds and flowers.^[5]

Reproduction

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

Sources

• 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.

Further reading

• Schulze Niehoff P (2018). "Mearns’ Rock Lizard, Petrosaurus mearnsi (Stejneger, 1894) – its natural history, captive care and first breeding record". Sauria (Berlin) 40 (1): 58–74.
• Stejneger L (1894). "Description of Uta mearnsi, a new Lizard from California". Proceedings of the United States National Museum 17: 589–591. (Uta mearnsi, new species)

Notes and References

1. Beltz, Ellin (2006). Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America – Explained. ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html.
2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Petrosaurus mearnsi, p. 174).
3. [Hobart Muir Smith|Smith HM]
4. Web site: Petrosaurus mearnsi — Banded Rock Lizard. Fisher, Robert. Case, Ted J.. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California. U.S. Geological Survey. 7 June 2016.
5. [Robert C. Stebbins|Stebbins RC]