20 Spiny Lizards in the United States! (ID Guide)
“What kinds of spiny lizards are there in the United States?”
When you hear the name “spiny lizard”, you might picture an animal with long, sharp spikes like a porcupine. I know I did when I first started learning about spiny lizards!
However, the name refers to the lizards’ pointed scales, which look like deadly spikes but are surprisingly soft to the touch.
Today, you’ll learn about the 20 different kinds of spiny lizards in the United States.
#1. Common Sagebrush Lizard
- Sceloporus graciosus
Identifying Characteristics:
- 1.9 to 3.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is gray or brown with a light stripe on each side, a black bar at the shoulder, and blue patches on the belly.
- Unusually long, almost spidery back claws.
This species is the most widespread spiny lizard in the United States.
Common Sagebrush Lizards are typically found in sagebrush fields, as their name suggests, but you can also find them in grasslands and among dunes. They are most active during daylight hours.
Common Sagebrush Lizard Range Map:
These spiny lizards eat a wide variety of insects and even scorpions! They hibernate during winter when temperatures drop, and food becomes scarce.
The easiest way to tell if you’ve found a Common Sagebrush Lizard is to look at its belly. The brilliant blue spots on its throat and abdomen are a dead giveaway!
#2. Western Fence Lizard
- Sceloporus occidentalis
Identifying Characteristics:
- 2.25 to 3.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Black, gray, or dark brown coloring with uneven lighter blotches.
- The sides of the belly are blue, and the backs of the limbs are orange or yellow.
If you see a dark lizard on the ground or a fence, chances are you’ve found a Western Fence Lizard.
They’re the most commonly seen lizards within their range, and you can spot them on fenceposts, lumber piles, and even the sides of buildings! They aren’t picky about their habitat and live in most ecosystems except for the desert.
Western Fence Lizard Range Map:
One of the most fascinating talents of Western Fence Lizards is that they can help lower YOUR risk of Lyme disease.
Here’s why:
These spiny lizards have blood that actually kills the Lyme Bacteria that many ticks carry! So once an infected tick feeds on the lizard’s blood, they’re cured!

#3. Eastern Fence Lizard
- Sceloporus undulatus
Identifying Characteristics:
- 1.5 to 3.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloration is highly varied – grayish-white, brown, reddish, and nearly black are all common.
- Females have dark, wavy lines across the back. Males have two patches of blue on the throat.
You’re most likely to find the Eastern Fence Lizard in the United States in open forests with plenty of fallen logs and debris to hide in. They’re most active during the early morning before it gets too hot.
Eastern Fence Lizard Range Map:Credit: Virginia Herpetological Society
Eastern Fence Lizards eat twice per day, and their diet is made up of insects like ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. They are foragers, which means they will leave their home in search of food, but often return to the same general area at night.
In the United States, the Eastern Fence Lizard has adapted to a small but dangerous threat – imported fire ants!
Bites from fire ants can kill an Eastern Fence Lizard in less than an hour. To combat these non-native insects, these spiny lizards have adapted longer arms and legs, thicker skin, as well as new behaviors like climbing trees to stay out of harm’s way.

#4. Desert Spiny Lizard
- Sceloporus magister
Identifying Characteristics:
- 3.25 to 5.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is straw, yellowish, or light brown on the back, and the sides are usually rust-colored.
- In males, the throat has a blueish-green patch. In females, the head and neck are sometimes orange.
This species is the most aggressive spiny lizard in the United States!
They often bite when handled, so beware if you come across one in the wild.
Desert Spiny Lizards eat insects and larvae and even other lizards! Though they live in the desert as their name suggests, they are comfortable in many habitats, from riverbeds to yucca grassland and mesquite woodland.
Desert Spiny Lizard Range Map:Credit: U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior/USGS
Desert Spiny Lizards find shelter from the intense heat under logs and rocks, and in rodent burrows. You may be lucky enough to spot one coming out of a burrow to bask during the early morning, or hunting during the early evening!

#5. Prairie Lizard
- Sceloporus consobrinus
Identifying Characteristics:
- 3.5 to 7.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is light reddish-brown with a light brown stripe down the spine.
- Orange or red coloring on the lips and chin is sometimes present.
Look for Prairie Lizards in the United States in habitats with lots of places to perch, including open forests, tall grass fields, or even dunes. Their diet is made up of insects and spiders they can easily subdue.
Prairie Lizard Range Map:
These spiny lizards are one of the best climbers in their family! In the United States, Prairie Lizards spend most of their time off the ground, perched in trees, on fences, and even on sunflowers.
In addition to climbing, Prairie Lizards can run so fast that they are hard to catch. If you see one, you’ll probably have more luck observing from a distance than trying to get up close!

#6. Southwestern Fence Lizard
- Sceloporus cowlesi
Identifying Characteristics:
- 3.5 to 7.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is light reddish-brown with a light brown stripe down the spine.
- Orange or red coloring on the lips and chin is sometimes present.
Until recent studies confirmed its DNA, Southwestern Fence Lizards were considered a subspecies of the Western Fence Lizard!
Southwestern Fence Lizards prefer habitats in the United States with plenty of places to perch, including rock formations and dunes. Their food sources are spiders and insects, which they catch while in their perch.
Southwestern Fence Lizard Range Map:
Southwestern Fence Lizards spend most of their time perched in trees or fences. If you see one, get a good look – chances are it will be gone before you know it! They’re quick to hide if threatened.
#7. Slevin’s Bunchgrass Lizard
- Sceloporus slevini
Identifying Characteristics:
- 1.5 to 2.75 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring includes shades of brown with an orange stripe on either side of the body.
- Males have blue patches on the belly.
Slevin’s Bunchgrass Lizards live primarily in the United States in mountain areas above 6,000 ft. and prefer sunny, open woods. Their primary food source is insects including, wasps and beetles.
Slevin’s Bunchgrass Lizard Range Map:
It’s more common to hear a Slevin’s Bunchgrass Lizard in the United States than to see one.
They are small and fast, prone to hiding, and move quickly from their hiding spots. If you hear a rustling noise at your feet, it could be a Slevin’s Bunchgrass Lizard scurrying away!
#8. Striped Plateau Lizard
- Sceloporus virgatus
Identifying Characteristics:
- 1.75 to 3 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is brownish with a pronounced striped pattern: two orange or light brown stripes on each side of the body, outlined in darker brown.
- A small blue patch can be seen on either side of the throat in both males and females.
The Striped Plateau Lizard lives in mountainous terrain with oak and coniferous trees. The species is abundant near streams with sandy or rocky bottoms.
Striped Plateau Lizard Range Map:Credit: U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior/USGS
An unusual feature of the female Striped Plateau Lizard is that their blue patches turn orange during the breeding season.
Larger and brighter orange spots signal to male Striped Plateau Lizards that a female is a good selection for mating. And if you see a Striped Plateau Lizard with orange spots instead of blue, look out for babies!
#9. Mountain Spiny Lizard
- Sceloporus jarrovi
Identifying Characteristics:
- 1.75 to 4.25 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- The coloring of the scales is black with blue-green or pinkish middles, forming a mesh pattern on the back.
- A black collar around the neck forms a thick band between the head and body.
In the Southwestern United States, the Mountain Spiny Lizard lives in rocky canyons and hillsides. It is an agile climber but prefers rock bluffs and boulders over trees. They mostly eat insects and spiders.
Mountain Spiny Lizard Range Map:
Mountain Spiny Lizards are one of the few lizard species that give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. They give birth to between 2 and 14 offspring every year, in May or June.

#10. Clark’s Spiny Lizard
- Sceloporus clarkii
Identifying Characteristics:
- 2.75 to 5.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is gray to blue-green, with black or gray bands on the arms.
- The scales on the back are long and pointed, ending in sharp spines.
Your best bet for spotting Clark’s Spiny Lizards in the United States is in the trees.
Even then, you’re most likely to hear one instead of seeing one because even though they are a relatively large species, they are very shy!
Clark’s Spiny Lizard Range Map:
In fact, it usually takes two people to get a photo of a Clark’s Spiny Lizard. One person to distract the lizard while the other quietly sneaks up on it from behind.
They’ll often run around trees or rocks as a defensive strategy, keeping to the opposite side of a threat. If you’re lucky enough to see this behavior in the wild, it may remind you of a squirrel being chased!
#11. Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
- Sceloporus arenicolus
Identifying Characteristics:
- 2 to 2.75 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is light yellowish brown with no pattern except for two grayish lines on the back.
- Blue patches on the throat and belly are much less pronounced than other spiny lizards.
The Dunes Sagebrush Lizard has the most specific habitat of any spiny lizard in the United States.
It only lives in a small area of dunes created by shinnery oak trees. It uses the sand and the root systems of the trees to create burrows to hide in and escape uncomfortable temperatures.
Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Range Map:Credit: U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior/USGS
When out of their borrows, Dunes Sagebrush Lizards spend their time basking in “blowouts,” which are crater-like holes in the sand.
The small range of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard is threatened by cattle grazing and oil industry development, which causes damage to shinnery oak trees and the introduction of invasive species.
#12. Crevice Spiny Lizard
- Sceloporus poinsettii
Identifying Characteristics:
- 3 to 5.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is yellowish with a thick black collar bordered with white and thick, dusky bands down the back.
- Scales are pointed and keeled (raised in the center), giving this species a particularly spiky look.
As their name suggests, Crevice Spiny Lizards live in rocky areas with plenty of cracks and crevices.
Crevice Spiny Lizard Range Map:
They are very timid, so you would be very lucky to see one of these spiny lizards in the wild! They are so nervous and skittish, they have been known to climb straight up a rock face to escape a threat!
Crevice Spiny Lizards also find their food- mainly insects and spiders- in the cracks of their rocky habitat.
Females have the interesting ability to carry their eggs until they hatch, instead of laying them in a nest! There aren’t many places in its habitat suitable for burying eggs, so this adaptation is truly necessary!
#13. Twin-Spotted Spiny Lizard
- Sceloporus bimaculosus
Identifying Characteristics:
- 5 to 5.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is pale gray to brown or straw. Dark lines run from the corners of the eyes down the back.
- Males have two long blue-green patches on the sides that females lack.
The Twin-Spotted Spiny Lizard prefers a semi-arid desert habitat and usually lives near thickets, rock formations, or old buildings.
Twin-Spotted Spiny Lizard Range Map:Credit: U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior/USGS
The Twin-Spotted Spiny Lizard is one of the largest spiny lizards in the United States!
Even for a lizard, it has a strikingly long tail. It can be up to twice as long as the lizard’s body and ends in a sharp point.
#14. Canyon Lizard
- Sceloporus merriami
Identifying Characteristics:
- 2 to 2.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring often matches the boulders of its habitat – gray, tan, or reddish-brown. Vertical black bars are present on the shoulders.
- Males have two large blue belly patches edged in black.
The Canyon Lizard can ONLY be found in Texas.
Canyon Lizard Range Map:
It has three distinct subspecies, all with slight variations in coloring. The subspecies are Merriam’s Canyon Lizard, Big Bend Canyon Lizard, and Presidio Canyon Lizard.
All three subspecies have a throat fold, which is unique in spiny lizards.
The easiest way to tell the difference between the three subspecies of the Canyon Lizard is location; their ranges are close together in Texas but don’t overlap.
#15. Texas Spiny Lizard
- Sceloporus olivaceus
Identifying Characteristics:
- 3.5 to 4.75 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is gray to rusty brown with light stripes along the sides and wavy bars across the back.
- Males have narrow light-blue patches on the sides.
The Texas Spiny Lizard range is limited in the United States.
However, it’s very widespread and abundant in its habitat.
Texas Spiny Lizard Range Map:
Texas Spiny Lizards are habitat generalists, which means they can live in almost any habitat. However, they prefer high perches and live in trees and patches of prickly pear cactus, on fences, in old bridges, and even in abandoned houses!
#16. Florida Scrub Lizard
- Sceloporus woodi
Identifying Characteristics:
- 1.5 to 2.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is brown to gray-brown with darker stripes down the back. The throat is black with a white stripe down the middle.
- Dark spots are often present on the white chest, and rust-colored irregular blotches appear on the sides.
As its name suggests, the Florida Scrub Lizard can ONLY be found in Florida.
It lives in citrus groves with open, sandy ground and coastal scrubland with dunes.
Florida Scrub Lizard Range Map:
You can spot this tiny lizard on the beach, but you’ll have to be quick to get more than a glimpse. This shy, nervous species moves fast! One of the easiest ways to spot the Florida Scrub Lizard is to look toward its belly, which has two brilliant turquoise spots. The color is truly amazing!
#17. Granite Spiny Lizard
- Sceloporus woodi
Identifying Characteristics:
- 3.25 to 4.5 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is generally dark brown to black.
- Males have unique blue or green marked scales, giving this species an iridescent appearance.
Granite Spiny Lizards have the most unique coloring of all spiny lizards in the United States!
Granite Spiny Lizard Range Map:
Their scales have a dark background with bright blue-green middles, making the entire body appear almost holographic. Often the entire belly of the male Granite Spiny Lizard is brilliant blue. They are really something to see!
Even though they’re easy to spot because of their lack of camouflage, they’re so quick you’re likely to miss them!

#18. Graphic Spiny Lizard
- Sceloporus grammicus
Identifying Characteristics:
- 1.5 to 3 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is gray to olive-gray without distinct markings.
- Males sometimes have a metallic-green luster to their back scales.
The Graphic Spiny Lizard, sometimes called the Mesquite Lizard, can ONLY be found in extreme southern Texas in the United States.
Graphic Spiny Lizard Range Map:
This tiny lizard lives primarily in mesquite trees and some other scrubby tree varieties. Graphic Spiny Lizards, like most other lizards, prefer to eat insects like ants and beetles.
Graphic Spiny Lizards have a much rounder head than most other spiny lizards, which is one way to tell them apart from similar species.
#19. Rose-Bellied Lizard
- Sceloporus variabilis
Identifying Characteristics:
- 1 to 2.25 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Coloring is buff to olive-brown, with two rows of brown spots on the sides. Males have pink spots edged in dark blue on the belly.
- Skin pockets behind the thighs create folds near the base of the tail.
The Rose-Bellied Lizard is found in arid deserts in the United States.
Look for them on fenceposts or cactus. They are extremely well-adapted to sharing space with humans and often bask out in the open along trails.
Rose-Bellied Lizard Range Map:Credit: U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior/USGS
Rose-Bellied Lizards have a fascinating defensive strategy.
Their tails are easily broken off and can regenerate! This is useful if a predator grabs on – even if they get a bite, the Rose-Bellied Lizard can still escape!
#20. Blue Spiny Lizard
- Sceloporus cyanogenys
Identifying Characteristics:
- 4 to 6 inches long from snout to vent. (Length does not include the tail)
- Male coloring is metallic greenish-blue over dark brown, with bronze coloring on the legs and pairs of light spots along the back.
- Females are gray to brown without metallic coloring, but they do have pairs of light spots as in the males.
This species is the largest spiny lizard in the United States, growing up to 14 inches long!.
Blue Spiny Lizards prefer to live in rocky areas with plenty of hiding places since their size and coloring make them conspicuous to predators. Interestingly, they can sever their tail and regenerate it if a predator latches on!
Blue Spiny Lizard Range Map:
Blue Spiny Lizards have a small population in the United States, but their gray-blue coloring and large size make them recognizable if you find one.

Do you need additional help identifying spiny lizards?
Try this field guide!
Which of these spiny lizards have you seen in the United States?
Leave a comment below!