Side-blotched Lizard

A Small Lizard With a Big Range

At just 3 to 4 inches long, the side-blotched lizard is one of Zion's smallest reptiles - brown, tan, gray, or orange-brown, with a dark blotch behind each front leg that gives the species its name (though the blotch can be faint or missing, especially on females). Females carry two light stripes running down each side of the body; males instead show scattered blue and light speckling, with a throat patch that brightens to blue, yellow, or orange during the breeding season.

Where & When to Find One

This is a desertscrub and open-ground specialist, most common in Zion's lower, warmer terrain rather than the shaded canyon floor - similar habitat to where collared lizards and zebra-tailed lizards turn up. Look for them darting across open sand and rock in full sun; they're active essentially all day in warm months and are usually the first lizard you'll notice moving on a trail.

Telling It Apart

The dark side blotch is the quickest tell when visible. Compared to the plateau lizard, side-blotched lizards are smaller and lack spiny, keeled scales - their skin looks and feels smoother. They're also faster to bolt and rarely pause as long as a plateau lizard will.