Baja Blue Rock Lizard

ANIMAL:
Baja Blue Rock Lizard Petrosaurus thalassinus

Type of Animal:
Iguanid

Habitat:
Boulder-laden/strewn hillsides, rocky canyons, rocky bottoms, cliffsides, rocky crevices, arroyo bottoms, seaside cliffs, rocks near large trees, desert

Location(s):
Sierra La Laguna & Sierra La Trinidad areas of Baja California Sur as well as Isla Espiritu Santo & Isla Partida in Gulf of California

Appearance:
Flattened body w/ small smooth granular scales, slightly keeled tail scales, bluish head w/ red to orange colors around eyes, yellow neck w/ blue spots/streaks, gray blue tail w/ darker cross bars, coloration intensifies in breeding season, males have thicker tail bases/larger heads

Food/Diet:
Insects, insect larvae, small lizards (including smaller members of own species), blossoms, leaves, seeds, small fruit, greens, vegetables

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, herpetoculture, & wildlife centers

Lifestyle:
Solitary or trios of a male & 2 females

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Hatchling
Group: Colony/Leap

Weight:
Male: 4.76 oz
Female: 3.7 oz
Young: 0.04 oz

Gestation:
3 months

Life Span:
20 years

Body Length:
Male: 1.5 ft
Female: 1 ft
Young: 4.33 in

Tail Length:
4 in, same for both sexes

Active during the day (diurnal).
 
Love basking in very hot temps.
 
Flattened body allows them to quickly retreat into rock crevices to escape from predators as well as bad weather.
 
Usually breed in late spring.
 
Females lay 4-30 eggs w/ hatchlings most often appearing in late summer/early fall.
 
Sexually mature at 1.5 years old.
 
Like many lizards, they store fat in their tails.
 
Often hibernate in cooler weather.

Fun Fact(s):
These lizards are very shy/wary & prefer not being handled. Sometimes, they’ll extend skin flap along throat. Other times, they’ll make throat-popping sound & even bite. Like many lizards, they can drop tails if caught.
 
They’re great climbers, being able to climb perpendicularly, vertically, horizontally, & upside down.

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