side-blotched lizard

The side-blotched lizard, genus Uta, is a type of New World lizard found in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. The common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) is prevalent across the western U.S. These lizards typically measure between 4 to 11 inches in length and are usually dull in color, though some males display blue throats and abdomens. They are adept climbers, often found on bushes and large rocks, and tend to stay close to protective cover. Their diet primarily consists of insects, and they reproduce by laying eggs.1

In some smaller lizard species, like the side-blotched lizard, young hatchlings can reach sexual maturity within months. For instance, Uta stansburiana young born in July can mature by the following autumn. Adult mortality rates for this species can be very high, exceeding 90% annually, due to factors such as predation and weather.2