Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard
Yellow-backed Spiny LizardYellow-backed Spiny LizardYellow-backed Spiny LizardYellow-backed Spiny Lizard

Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus uniformis

5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
8 Verified records at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

Sceloporus uniformis, also known as the yellow-backed spiny lizard, is a reptile of the family Phrynosomatidae. It is native to the Mojave, Great Basin, and San Joaquin deserts. Until recently, it was considered to be a subspecies of Sceloporus magister. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard sighting in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, based on 8 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Western Fence Lizard
LC Endemic

Western Fence Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus occidentalis

60–70% · Likely
Sagebrush Lizard
LC

Sagebrush Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus graciosus

40–50% · Likely
Common Side-blotched Lizard
LC

Common Side-blotched Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uta stansburiana

10–20% · With luck
Desert Horned Lizard
LC

Desert Horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma platyrhinos

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
10–20
Apr
5–10
May
10–20
Jun
<5
Jul
5–10
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
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 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
2 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
3 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
4 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?

About 6% of wildlife watchers report a Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard sighting in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, based on 8 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?

April has the highest sighting rate for Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in our monthly data.

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