Taxonomy: Phrynosomatid Lizard Family.

General Description: Common Side-blotched Lizards (Uta stansburiana) are the most common small lizards in desert areas around Las Vegas. Males and females look different, and they are highly variable among one another and especially during the breeding season, but they all have a black spot, the "side blotch," on the side of the body just behind the front legs.

Technical Description: Small (snout-vent length about 5.5 cm [2.25 in.]). The body color generally is brown with a small, but conspicuous, dark spot on the sides of the body just behind the front legs. There are a variety of dorsal patterns: blotched, speckled, and unpatterned. Males tend to be unpatterned, but speckled with blue during the breeding season. Females tend to have a row of dark blotches along each side of the back that converge in the middle of the back, also one row of blotches down the top of the tail. The belly color is gray (no blue). A narrow white stripe extends from the outside corner of each eye onto the shoulder. Scales on the back small and smooth, without keels or spines, and the gular fold is complete. Males have a swollen tail base and enlarged postanal scales.

Diet: Insects, spiders, and other small bugs.

Habitat: This is the most common lizard in the southwest. They are found from the low deserts into the lower mountains, but generally are most common at middle elevations. They can be found on rocks, the lower branches of trees and shrubs, and in debris near the ground.

Range: Most of the western United States and northern Mexico.

Comments: These lizards lay eggs during spring and summer, with as many as seven clutches of eight eggs each. Young lizards are seen in late summer and fall.