Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus graciosus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyPhrynosomatidae (Frinosomàtids)
- GenusSceloporus (Spiny Lizards)
- SpeciesSceloporus graciosus (Sagebrush Lizard)
The sagebrush lizard or sagebrush swift (Sceloporus graciosus) is a common species of phrynosomatid lizard found at mid to high altitudes in the western United States. It belongs to the genus Sceloporus (spiny lizards) in the Phrynosomatidae family of reptiles. Named after the sagebrush plants near which it is commonly found, the sagebrush lizard has keeled and spiny scales running along its dorsal surface. The sagebrush lizard is similar to the western fence lizard, another Sceloporus species found in the western US. The sagebrush lizard can be distinguished from the western fence lizard in that the former is on average smaller and has finer scales. The keeled dorsal scales are typically gray or tan, but can be a variety of colors. The main (ground) color is broken by a lighter gray or tan stripe running down the center of the back (vertebral stripe) and two light stripes, one on either side of the lizard (dorsolateral stripes). Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Sagebrush Lizard sighting in Death Valley National Park, based on 14 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Death Valley National Park
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus uniformis
Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
Desert Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus magister
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
Zebra-tailed Lizard
Callisaurus draconoides
Desert Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma platyrhinos
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard
Uma scoparia
Ornate Tree Lizard
Urosaurus ornatus
Coast Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma blainvillii
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Yellowstone National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Badlands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Grand Teton National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Sagebrush Lizard in Death Valley National Park?
About 21% of wildlife watchers report a Sagebrush Lizard sighting in Death Valley National Park, based on 14 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Sagebrush Lizard in Death Valley National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Sagebrush Lizard in Death Valley National Park in our monthly data.