Colorado Herpetological Society's

Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Colorado

Desert Spiny Lizard
(Sceloporus magister)

Family Phrynosomatidae

Photo by L. Livo and S. Wilcox,
from Hammerson, 1986.
Used with permission.

Last Updated on January 20, 2000.

Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister)
Decription: 3½" to 5½s" snout-vent length; to 13" overall. Color yellowish brown to brown. Black mark on shoulders. Juveniles with bands across back. Large, sharply keeled scales on back. Elevation Range: Below 5100' in extreme southwest Colorado. Subspecies in Colorado: Sceloporus magister cephaloflavus.