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"Fringe-toed lizards are lizards of the genus Uma in the family Phrynosomatidae, native to deserts of North America. They are adapted for life in sandy deserts with fringe-like scales on their hind toes hence their common name. Descriptions Lizards of the genus Uma have a brown and tan coloration that helps them to blend in with the sand. The dorsal surface has a velvety texture with intricate markings. In addition, they also have prominent elongated scales which form a fringe on the sides of their hind toes. These fringes aid with traction and speed, and help the lizard avoid sinking into loose, sandy dunes. Fringe-toed lizards also possess upper jaws which overlap the lower ones, preventing the intrusion of sand particles, and nostrils that can be closed at will. Flaps also close against the ear openings when moving through sand, and the upper and lower eyelids have interlocking scales that prevent sand from getting into the eyes. Geographic range Fringe-toed lizards range throughout southeast California and southwest Arizona, and extend into northwest Sonora and northeast Baja California. Habitat Lizards of the genus Uma are found in low desert areas having fine, loose sand. Diet Fringe-toed lizards primarily eat insects, including ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Flower buds, stems, leaves and seeds of plants are also eaten. Behavior Lizards of the genus Uma bury themselves underground in the winter. They sleep in their burrows, and use their burrows for protection from predators and extreme temperatures. Species *Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, Uma inornata Cope, 1895 *Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard, Uma notata Baird, 1858 *Mohawk Dunes fringe-toed lizard, Uma thurmanae Derycke, Gottscho, Mulcahy, & De Queiroz, 2020 *Mojave fringe-toed lizard, Uma scoparia Cope, 1894 *Yuman Desert fringe- toed lizard, Uma cowlesi Heifetz, 1941 *Mexican fringe-toed lizard, Uma paraphygas K.L. Williams, Chrapliwy & H.M. Smith, 1959 *Coahuila fringe-toed lizard, Uma exsul Schmidt & Bogert, 1947"Uma ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. See also *Meroles, a genus of African lizards with morphological and ecological similarities *Xerocoles, animals adapted to desert environments References Category:Phrynosomatidae Category:Lizard genera Category:Reptiles of Mexico Category:Reptiles of the United States Category:Fauna of the Colorado Desert Category:Fauna of the Mojave Desert Category:Fauna of the Sonoran Desert Category:Endangered fauna of California Category:Lizards of North America Category:Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird "
"Urosaurus is a genus of lizards, commonly known as tree lizards or brush lizards, belonging to the New World family Phrynosomatidae. Description Species in the genus Urosaurus can be distinguished from members of the genus Sceloporus by the presence of a gular (under neck) fold and granular lateral scales. They can be distinguished from members of the genus Uta by the presence of enlarged (sometimes only slightly) dorsal scales. Reproduction Urosaurus have been used as a model system in lizard life-history studies, and populations produce two or more clutches of eggs per year. Field studies have also shown a cost of reproduction in a natural New Mexico population of the species Urosaurus ornatus. Species In the genus Urosaurus there are nine species which are recognized as being valid. *Urosaurus auriculatus *Urosaurus bicarinatus *Urosaurus clarionensis *Urosaurus gadovi *Urosaurus graciosus *Urosaurus irregularis *Urosaurus lahtelai *Urosaurus nigricaudus *Urosaurus ornatus Etymology The specific name, gadovi, is in honor of German ornithologist Hans Friedrich Gadow.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Urosaurus gadovi, p. 96). References Further reading *Hallowell E (1854). "Descriptions of new Reptiles from California". Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 91–97. (Urosaurus, new genus, p. 92). Category:Phrynosomatidae Category:Lizards of Central America Category:Lizards of North America Category:Lizard genera Category:Taxa named by Edward Hallowell (herpetologist) "
"Side-blotched lizards are lizards of the genus Uta. They are some of the most abundant and commonly observed lizards in the deserts of western North America, known for cycling between three colorized breeding patternsSinervo, B.; C.M. Lively (1996). "The rock–paper–scissors game and the evolution of alternative male strategies". Nature 380 (6571): 240–243. doi:10.1038/380240a0. and is best described in the common side-blotched lizard. They commonly grow to 6 in including the tail, with the males normally being the larger sex. Males often have bright throat colors. These lizards are prey for many desert species. Snakes, larger lizards, and birds all make formidable predators to side-blotched lizards. Larger lizard species, such as collared, leopard, and spiny lizards, and roadrunners are the main predators. In turn, the side-blotched lizards eat arthropods, such as insects, spiders, and occasionally scorpions. As a result of their high predation rate, these lizards are very prolific breeders. From April to June, they breed, with the young emerging as early as late May. These inch-long young appear all through the summer, and into September. The diploid chromosome number in most if not all species is 34, consisting of 12 macro- and 22 microchromosomes.Pennock et al. (1968) Sex Side-blotched lizards are notable for having the highest number of distinct male and female morphs within a species: three male and two female. They show a diversity of behaviors associated with reproduction, which are often referred to as "alternative reproductive tactics".Taborsky,M & Brockmann HJ (2010) Alternative reproductive tactics and life history phenotypes. pp 537-586, In P. Kappeler, Ed. Animal Behaviour: Evolution and Mechanisms. Springer Berlin Heidelberg Orange-throated males are "ultra- dominant, high testosterone", that establish large territories and control areas that contain multiple females. Yellow stripe-throated males ("sneakers") do not defend a territory, but cluster on the fringes of orange-throated lizard territories, and mate with the females on those territories while the orange-throat is absent, as the territory to defend is large. Blue-throated males are less aggressive and guard only one female; they can fend off the yellow stripe-throated males, but cannot withstand attacks by orange-throated males. Orange-throated females lay many small eggs and are very territorial. Yellow-throated females lay fewer, larger eggs, and are more tolerant of each other.Roughgarden, Joan (2004). Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People. University of California Press. Especially chapter 6, Multiple Gender Families, pp. 90-93. This is called the rock paper scissors effect,Sinervo, B & Lively C.M. (1996) The rock-scissors-paper game and the evolution of alternative male strategies. Nature 340: 240-246 borrowed from the name of the playground game, because the outcome of the mating success shows that one morph of the lizard takes advantage over another but not over the third. The orange and blue-throated males can sometimes be seen approaching a human "intruder". One speculation is that he could be giving the female(s) a chance to escape, but whether he is defending the female has not been documented. Another speculation is that he is highly motivated to engage whenever he sees movement on his territory, which he may be interpreting as a possible intruding male, or another female. Systematics The systematics and phylogeny of the side-blotched lizards is very confusing, with many local forms and morphs having been described as full species.See e.g. Oliver (1943) Following the 1997 review of Upton and Murphy, which included new data from mtDNA cytochrome b and ATPase 6 sequences, the following species can be recognized pending further research: *Eastern side-blotched lizard, U. stejnegeri - formerly included in U. stansburiana *San Pedro Martir side- blotched lizard, U. palmeri *Angel de la Guarda side-blotched lizard (undescribed species, formerly included in U. stansburiana) *Salsipuedes side- blotched lizard, U. antiqua - formerly included in U. stansburiana *Santa Catalina side-blotched lizard, U. squamata - sometimes included in U. stansburiana *San Esteban side-blotched lizard (undescribed species, formerly included in U. stansburiana) *San Pedro Nolasco side-blotched lizard, U. nolascensis *Common side-blotched lizard, U. stansburiana **Western side- blotched lizard, U. (stansburiana) elegans **Nevada side-blotched lizard, U. (stansburiana) nevadensis **Northern side-blotched lizard, U. (stansburiana) stansburiana **Eastern side-blotched lizard, U. (stansburiana) stejnegeri **Plateau side-blotched lizard, U. (stansburiana) uniformis *Enchanted side- blotched lizard, U. encantadae - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana *El Muerto side-blotched lizard, U. lowei - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana *Swollen-nosed side-blotched lizard, U. tumidarostra - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana *Socorro side-blotched lizard, U. auriculata - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana *Clarion side-blotched lizard, U. clarionensis - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana *Ornate side-blotched lizard, U. mannophora - possibly belongs into U. stansburiana U. stellata and U. concinna are now usually considered subspecies of U. stansburiana. U. encantadae, U. lowei, and U. tumidarostra might be subspecies of a distinct species (Las Encantadas side-blotched lizard), instead. Similarly, U. auriculata and U. clarionensis might be subspecies of a single species, the Revillagigedo side- blotched lizard. Etymology The specific name, lowei, is in honor of American herpetologist Charles Herbert Lowe.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Uta lowei, p. 161). References *Collins JT (1991). "Viewpoint: a new taxonomic arrangement for some North American amphibians and reptiles". Herpetological Review 22(2): 42-43. PDF fulltext *Grismer LL (1994). "Three new species of intertidal side-blotched lizards (Genus Uta) from the Gulf of California, Mexico". Herpetologica 50: 451–474. *Murphy, Robert W.; Aguirre-León, Gustavo (2002). "The Nonavian Reptiles: Origins and Evolution". pp. 181-220. In: Case, Ted J.; Cody, Martin L.; Ezcurra, Exequiel (editors) (2002). A New Island Biogeography of the Sea of Cortés. New York: Oxford University Press. 690 pp. . PDF fulltext Appendices 2-4 *Oliver JA (1943). "The Status of Uta ornata lateralis Boulenger". Copeia 1943(2): 97-107. (First page image) *Pennock, Lewis A.; Tinkle, Donald W.; Shaw, Margery W. (1968). "Chromosome Number in the Lizard Genus Uta (Family Iguanidae)". Chromosoma 24(4): 467-476. PDF fulltext *Upton, Darlene E.; Murphy, Robert W. (1997). "Phylogeny of the Side-Blotched Lizards (Phrynosomatidae: Uta) Based on mtDNA Sequences: Support for a Midpeninsular Seaway in Baja California". Mol. Phyl. Evol. 8 (1): 104-113. PDF fulltext Category:Phrynosomatidae Category:Lizards of North America Category:Reptiles of the United States Category:Reptiles of Mexico Category:Lizard genera Category:Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird Category:Taxa named by Charles Frédéric Girard "