Desert Spiny Lizard
Desert Spiny LizardDesert Spiny LizardDesert Spiny LizardDesert Spiny Lizard

Desert Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus magister

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
50–60% · Likely
overall probability at Grand Canyon National Park
347 Verified records at Grand Canyon National Park
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

Sceloporus magister, also known as the desert spiny lizard, is a lizard species of the family Phrynosomatidae, native to the Chihuahuan Desert and Sonoran Desert of North America. Wikipedia →

50–60% of wildlife watchers report a Desert Spiny Lizard sighting in Grand Canyon National Park, based on 347 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Grand Canyon National Park

Plateau Fence Lizard
Endemic

Plateau Fence Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus tristichus

60–70% · Likely
Sagebrush Lizard
LC

Sagebrush Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus graciosus

20–30% · Possible
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus uniformis

<5% · Rare
Common Side-blotched Lizard
LC

Common Side-blotched Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uta stansburiana

50–60% · Likely
Ornate Tree Lizard
LC

Ornate Tree Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Urosaurus ornatus

40–50% · Likely
Greater Short-horned Lizard
LC

Greater Short-horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma hernandesi

40–50% · Possible
Desert Horned Lizard
LC

Desert Horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma platyrhinos

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
5–10
Feb
40–50
Mar
60–70
Apr
70–80
May
60–70
Jun
40–50
Jul
50–60
Aug
50–60
Sep
40–50
Oct
10–20
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
50–60%
2 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
50–60%
3 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
4 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Desert Spiny Lizard in Grand Canyon National Park?

About 56% of wildlife watchers report a Desert Spiny Lizard sighting in Grand Canyon National Park, based on 347 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Desert Spiny Lizard in Grand Canyon National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for Desert Spiny Lizard in Grand Canyon National Park in our monthly data.

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