The Blue Jay

November 5, 2014 Comments (16) Fauna

The Blue Belly Lizard

The blue-belly lizard aka the Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is one of the most common of lizards found in California. They range from sea level to the mountains and only avoid open desert and wet forests probably due to the need for external temperature regulation. The blue-belly gets its nickname from the colorful patches along the abdomen and throat area that can run from a pale blue to almost turquoise. This coloration is most prevalent on adult males and used to impress lady lizards. On top, their colors reflects their environment from near black to sandy browns and yellow stripes on their thighs. Their scales have a rough look that is almost shaggy in appearance, which can help an observer differentiate it from other lizards such as the common sagebrush lizard.

Blue-bellies get their common name Western fence lizard for their habit of climbing vertical surfaces to sun themselves in order to maintain body temperature.

Blue-bellies get their common name Western fence lizard for their habit of climbing vertical surfaces to sun themselves in order to maintain body temperature. Probably all children have tried to catch a blue-belly at one time or another. One common trick is to make a slip knot out of a long piece of grass or reed and slip it over the lizard’s head. The blue-belly does not crawl backwards and is easily snared. Catching them by hand can be trickier due to their fast reflexes and a “third eye” on top of their head that senses changes in light. If your shadow crosses this sensor the lizard will usually get away. Blue-bellies are also helpful fellows, they eat mostly insects and some research has shown they help curb the spread of lyme disease. Scientists have discovered that ticks who drink the blood of blue-bellies ingest a protein from the lizards that kills the disease causing bacteria. Another oddity of the Blue-belly is its susceptibility to being “hypnotized”. If he is caught and the belly is gently rubbed, the lizard will go limp for up to five minutes. Always remember to be gentle with the blue-belly or you may detach his tail which will convulse to act as a distraction to predators. This is probably really annoying to him since he will have a stump on his rear until his tail regenerates.

Blue Belly Lizard between rock crack

16 Responses to The Blue Belly Lizard

  1. nick says:

    Are blue bellies known to eat other lizards or even another blue belly

    • Tigris Amoyensis says:

      Blue belly lizards eat bugs of all kinds and will catch them on their own in the wild.

      Small lizards eat insects such as ants and baby crickets. As the blue belly lizard gets bigger, he will add larger prey to the menu, including spiders, earthworms, mealworms, waxworms, larger crickets and grasshoppers.

  2. Kim Prettenhofer says:

    Are blue belly lizards poisonous?

  3. Cathy says:

    I just got a blue bell lizard

  4. jose jasso says:

    hey do they eat other lizards i have a small iguana and the blue belly is kind of big and i dont know if it will fight or eat eachother

  5. James says:

    How many times can there tail grow back

    • Badger says:

      Scientists haven’t discovered if there is a limit, though it has been found that the structure and functionality lessens with each new tail.

  6. James says:

    How many times can there tail grow back

  7. lupita says:

    I recently caught a blue belly lizard. Its still a baby, but everyone says it carries a lot of germs and disease. Is this true? Can it be a good pet?

  8. roy says:

    Do blue belly lizards hunt with eyesight or smell? feeding them meal worms in my backyard it seems they find them with eye sight

  9. Loralin Ackerman says:

    Sooo, if they are able to make a tick harmless, why cant They come up with a serum for people with lymes disease ?? If i had it , i would certainly be willing to try it ??

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