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An Extraordinary Look at an Ordinary Lizard

October 24, 2024

An Extraordinary Look at an Ordinary Lizard

Western Fence Lizards As You’ve Never Seen Them Before

You’ve seen them. They are one of the most commonly seen lizards in the Santa Cruz mountain region. That is, if they want to be seen. As herpetologist and creator of the #FindThatLizard game Dr. Earyn McGee shows us, these masters of disguise can hide right beneath our very eyes. But you’ve probably never seen them quite like this. Photographer Orenda Randuch, zooms in to share an extraordinary look at an ordinary lizard. Are you ready to see the Western fence lizard in a whole new way?

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photos by Orenda Randuch

Western Fence Lizards

Despite their camouflaging scales, Western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) are often seen conspicuously basking in the sun.

Peeking through the brush at a western fence lizard on a sunny patch of sand, only tan, black, and white patterned scales are easily seen, by Orenda Randuch

They love rocks, logs, trees, and of course fences in open, sunny areas but they’ll hide in burrows or under rocks and tree bark if its too hot or cold out.

A western fence lizard gives the camera some serious side eye while it suns on a rock where the spines at the end of its scales some with pops of blue and green, by Orenda Randuch

The local subspecies of Western fence lizard in the Santa Cruz Mountains is called the coast range fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii).

An up close photo of a western fence lizard’s cream, tan, and black spotted scales and face in profile with scattered grains of sand on them, by Orenda Randuch
A macro photo of a western fence lizard snout shows two small black nostrils nearly indistinguishable from black markings on the scales at close range, by Orenda Randuch

You may have heard them called “blue belly lizards." Orenda Randuch’s macro lens gives us a whole new appreciation for those beautiful blue scales the male lizards are known for.

With a macro lens a western fence lizard’s belly scales appear as rows of icy blue lined with purple glitter and iridescent peacock blues, by Orenda Randuch
A different angle of a macro lens shot shows a western fence lizards scales in streams of pearly shades of pale and light blue with scattered deep purple and black dots like glitter, by Orenda Randuch

Although their appearances can vary greatly from individual to individual, Western fence lizards can also appear darker before they have warmed up, and males can appear more blue when they encounter one another during breeding season.

If their beautiful blue scales aren’t enough to attract a mate, male Western fence lizards will also bob their heads and do push ups to help show off their blue throat and colors.

A western fence lizards scaly underside displays shades of yellow near the shoulders, blue toward the belly, and yellow and lavender near the throat amongst shades of white, gray, and black, by Orenda Randuch

Western fence lizards are mostly covered in overlapping scales with spines at the tips.

Up close the scales on the back of a western fence lizard appear pointy in spotted shades of brown, black, and cream, interspersed with turquoise, by Orenda Randuch
A macro lens reveals tiny cheetah like pattern on rusty orange next to turquoise on the same scale on the back of a western fence lizard, by Orenda Randuch

Unfortunately, their overlapping scales don’t completely protect them from ticks (as modeled by an aligator lizard below). However, research suggests Western fence lizards may help decrease Lyme disease thanks to a protein in their blood that kills the disease-causing bacteria in nymphal ticks.

A western fence lizard sitting atop a hand has several black ticks visible as ovals near its head and ear, by Orenda Randuch

These diminutive, demure dragons also eat ticks—further helping to reduce the potential spread of Lyme disease—as well as other small invertebrates like crickets, spiders, and scorpions. Excitingly, Western fence lizards may even be one of the only lizard species to eat invasive Argentine ants which have disrupted the food chain their fellow Blainville's horned lizard friends rely on in the rare Santa Cruz sandhills.

Peeking through the brush at a western fence lizard on a sunny patch of sand, only tan, black, and white patterned scales are easily seen, by Orenda Randuch

When faced with danger, a Western fence lizard’s tail can easily break off, sometimes called “tail autotomy”, to allow the lizard to escape if its tail is caught or to wiggle around and distract a predator while the lizard quite literally “makes a break for it.” The broken tails do grow back but typically not as long or as strong. So, if you get to admire one of these Lyme disease-fighting-invasive-ant-eating heroes sunbathing, please try not to scare their tails off.

A mature western fence lizard with a long tail looks up standing on two open hands gently supporting it, by Orenda Randuch

If you’d like to see more lizards or see them in a new way, join herpetologist and creator of #FindThatLizard Dr. Earyn McGee Under the Redwoods for her expert tips and tricks.

More to Explore

• Learn more about how to #FindThatLizard with Dr. McGee Under the Redwoods
• Learn more about the wildlife you protect in the redwood forest
• Read about lizards and other rare wildlife in the Santa Cruz Sandhills

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