Southwestern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus cowlesi
- Class
- Reptile
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 4,831
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
Description
The southwestern fence lizard (Sceloporus cowlesi), also known as Cowles' prairie lizard, the White Sands prairie lizard or the White Sands swift, is species of spiny lizard in the family Iguanidae. The species is native to the Chihuahuan Desert of the south-western United States and north-central Mexico. Originally described in 1956 as Sceloporus undulatus cowlesi, a subspecies of the eastern fence lizard, subsequent DNA studies elevated the southwestern fence lizard to species status.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Southwestern fence lizard”.