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Eastern Fence Lizard


The Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatas) is a medium-sized lizard that is 4 to 7 inches in length.  Their overlapping scales are keeled and pointed, making them appear rough and spiny.  The back usually has brownish, gray, or grayish-brown coloration with color varying between the sexes.  Females are gray with dark gray or wavy black bands that form a ladder-like pattern on the back.  They also have pale blue spots on the sides of the belly and on the throat.  Males are usually brown and lack the dark ladder-like pattern, making them more uniform in color. 

The Eastern Fence Lizard is widely distributed throughout the eastern United States, ranging from Delaware to Florida and west to New Mexico and Arizona.  They are commonly found in open pine, mixed pine-hardwood forests, deciduous forests, cedar glades, woodlots, old fields, rock and brush piles, and areas with downed trees.  They can also be found around homes and barns.  They are an arboreal species.  They are commonly found in dry areas, but can be found in wetter areas as well. 

Males are very territorial and are commonly seen shaking their heads and doing pushups to demonstrate their territoriality. 

Eastern Fence Lizards eat a variety of invertebrates including beetles, flies, ants, moths, grasshoppers, spiders, and snails. 

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  • Home
  • Animals
    • Birds >
      • Avian Taxonomy
      • Bird Species Profiles
    • Mammal Species Profiles
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians >
      • Frog and Toad Species Profiles
    • Fish
    • Arthropods >
      • Arthropod Species Profiles
  • Plants
    • Native Plant Societies
    • Eastern Plant Identification Guide
  • Fungi
    • Fungi Species Profiles
  • Protists
  • Nature Products Store
  • Cell Phone Ringtones
  • Madbird Feeder Cam
  • Ramblings of the Madbird Biologist
  • Bird Videos
  • News in Science
  • Nature Inspired Recipes
  • An Introduction to Scientific Classification and Naming
  • Birds in the Classroom
  • Resources
  • About Me