2- Urosaurus graciosus :

The long-tailed brush lizard,

The long-tailed brush lizard, Urosaurus graciosus, occurs in the Mojave and northwestern Sonoran Deserts in the states of California, Arizona, Nevada, Sonora, and Baja California. This species received its common name due to its tail, which is more than twice the body length, and since it is almost always encountered on a tree or shrub. Its gray or tan coloration keep it well camouflaged against branches while it waits for insects. Unlike most other phrynosomatid lizards, which bury in the sand at night during warm weather, U. graciosus spends the night on the tips of branches.

U. graciosus is distinguishable from its close relative the tree lizard, Urosaurus ornatus, by the presence of a tail more than two times its snout-vent length and the absence of a series of smaller scales running down the middle of the band of enlarged dorsal scales. U. graciosusis distinguishable from the black-tailed brush lizard, Urosaurus nigricaudus, by the presence of a tail more than two times its snout-vent length and relatively large dorsal scales transitioning abruptly into granular lateral scales (in U. nigricaudus, the dorsal scales are only slightly enlarged and transition gradually into the granular lateral scales). It is distinguishable from all other brush lizards (Urosaurus) by geography.

Urosaurus graciosus

Scientific classification :

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Suborder:Iguania

Family:Phrynosomatidae

Genus:Urosaurus

Species:U. graciosus

Binomial name :

Urosaurus graciosus
Hallowell, 1854

Subspecies :

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. :

Urosaurus graciosus graciosus Hallowell, 1854
Urosaurus graciosus shannoni Lowe, 1955

For the external links , refrences click here to read the full wikipedia article

Videos :

The Long-Tailed Brush Lizard (Urosaurus graciosus) FEEDING

- LONG-TAILED BRUSH LIZARD Urosaurus graciosus

courtesy to : www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-Subpages/h-u-graciosus.html

By Thomas C. Brennan

Urosaurus graciosus

DESCRIPTION: A small (up to 66 mm or 2.6" from snout to vent), slim, pale gray or tan lizard with a very long (up to twice the length of the body), thin tail. Body markings are variable but usually consist of muted, gray-brown, irregularly-shaped blotches or crossbars. Markings are very faint or absent on some specimens. The throat is usually yellow or orange. A single, wide, lengthwise strip of enlarged, keeled scales runs down the middle of the back. The remainder of the dorsal scales are small and granular. The scales on the tail and limbs are enlarged and keeled. A fold of skin runs along each lower side of the body.

Males have two large, blue to blue-green patches marked with white flecks on the belly. Belly patches are lacking in females. Its single, wide strip of enlarged, keeled scales on the back and its long tail distinguish this lizard from the similar Ornate Tree Lizard.

DISTRIBUTION: This lizard is distributed across the low deserts of western and southwestern Arizona. It occurs at elevations ranging from near sea level along the Colorado River to about 3,500'.

HABITAT: Primarily an inhabitant of the Lower Colorado River Sonoran Desertscrub community and Mohave Desertscrub. It also follows riparian corridors and drainages into Arizona Upland Sonoran Desertscrub. It can be a common sight in creosotebush-lined desert flats with sandy soil and along tree lined drainages.

BEHAVIOR: An excellent climber, this diurnal lizard is commonly seen basking and foraging on the branches of creosotebushes and trees. When threatened it often aligns itself with a branch and remains motionless relying on its cryptic coloration to avoid detection. It often seeks shelter in the sand or in a burrow on cool nights but may sleep in the branches after a particularly hot day.

DIET: The Long-tailed Brush Lizard eats a variety of insects, spiders, and occasionally some plant material.

REPRODUCTION: This lizard lays one or two clutches of eggs in spring or summer. Clutch size ranges from 2 to 10 eggs.

sources :

Brennan, T. C., & A. T. Holycross. 2006. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona. Arizona Game and Fish Department. Phoenix, AZ

Brennan, T. C., & A. T. Holycross. 2005. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Maricopa County. Arizona Game and Fish Department. Phoenix, AZ

Degenhardt, W. G., Painter, C. W., and Price, A. H.. 1996. Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press. Albuquerque.

Stebbins, R.C. 2003. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.

Other websites :

- www.birdandhike.com/Wildlife/Lizard/Urosau_gra/_Uro_gra.htm

- www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Urosaurus+graciosus&flags=col3:&res=240

- www.wildherps.com/species/U.graciosus.html

- www.iucnredlist.org/details/64171/0

- reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Urosaurus&species=graciosus

- Brush Lizard :

courtesy to : thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/reptiles/Squamata/

The Brush Lizard is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The long-tailed brush lizard, Urosaurus graciosus, occurs in the Mojave and northwestern Sonoran Deserts in the states of California, Arizona, Nevada, Sonora, and Baja California.

Baja california brush lizard; Common brush-tailed possum; Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine; Brush-tailed rock wallaby; Brush-tailed marsupial rat; African brush-tailed porcupine; Spiny-tailed lizard; Asian long-tailed lizard; Sail-tailed lizard; Zebra-tailed lizard; Curly-tailed lizard; Yellow-crowned brush-tailed rat; Blue-tailed tree lizard; Viscaino zebra-tailed lizard; Western

Long-tailed Brush Lizard; note the enlarged scaled down the center of the back. Long-tailed Brush Lizard (Urosaurus graciosus) Long-tailed Brush Lizard; note the white belly with small, granular scales and a well-developed gular fold.

Long-tailed Brush Lizard on a branch resting motionless and relying on its camouflage to stay hidden. A Long-tailed Brush Lizard moves along a branch.

graciosus shannoni, the Arizona brush lizard, is found. Crother et al., 2000 designate the standard English name as Arizona Long-tailed Brush Lizard. By Erik F. More

Description: A close up scenic picture taken of a brush lizard found in the habitats of Marin County, California.

Long-tailed Brush Lizard (Urosaurus graciousus), potographed in San Bernadino Co., CA. All text and photographs

DIET: The Long-tailed Brush Lizard eats a variety of insects, spiders, and occasionally some plant material. REPRODUCTION: This lizard lays one or two clutches of eggs in spring or summer. Clutch size ranges from 2 to 10 eggs. By Thomas C. More

The Cape black-tailed brush lizard is a small lizard (44-to 50-mm snout-vent length, Stebbins 1985), endemic to the Cape Region, B.C.S., M

The Brush Lizard is from the order Squamata. Species from this order are amphisbaenians, lizards or snakes. There are over 6,000 living species belonging to the squamata order - it is the largest order of all reptiles.

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