Herpetofauna: One Life's List

Sceloporus variabilis marmoratus
Rosebelly Lizard

Santa Ana NWF, Hidalgo Co., Texas
February 24, 1995

In the dry thornscrub forests along the Rio Grande in south Texas, Rosebellies are the most common lizard I have encountered.  I see them on the  ground for the most part, but I have also seen plenty on rocks and logs and on low tree branches as well.  The upper photo shows a male marmoratus; note the black spot just behind the front leg, and the yellowish flash mark in front of it (I can't find any reference to this flash mark in the literature).

The middle shows a typical female from the same area, and the bottom photo is a stand of cacti along a trail in the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, where I usually can find a half dozen of these lizards scampering about.  A wooden bench is thoughtfully placed nearby for birdwatching,  but also providing a comfortable spot for saurian observation.