''Sceloporus merriami'', commonly known as the canyon lizard, is a
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of
lizard
Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...
in the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to the south-western United States and northern Mexico.
[
]
Etymology
The specific name, ''merriami'', is in honor of American zoologist
Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the structure, embryology, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems. Zoology is one ...
Clinton Hart Merriam
Clinton Hart Merriam (December 5, 1855 – March 19, 1942) was an American zoologist, mammalogist, ornithologist, entomologist, ecologist, ethnographer, geographer, natural history, naturalist and physician. He was commonly known as the "father o ...
.[Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Sceloporus merriami'', p. 176; ''S. m. ballingeri'', p. 15; ''S. m. sanojae'', p. 232; ''S. m. williamsi'', p. 286).]
Geographic range
''S. merriami'' is found in the United States in the state of Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
, and it is found in Mexico in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza, is one of the 31 states of Mexico. The largest city and State Capital is the city of Saltillo; the second largest is Torreón and the thi ...
, Durango
Durango, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Durango, is one of the 31 states which make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in the northwest portion of the country. With a population of 1,832,650 ...
,[ and ]Nuevo León
Nuevo León, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nuevo León, is a Administrative divisions of Mexico, state in northeastern Mexico. The state borders the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí, San Luis ...
.[
]
Description
Adults of ''S. merriami'' may reach 58 mm (2.2 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL). Including the tail, they may reach 162 mm (6.4 in) in total length. The dorsal scales are small, and the lateral scales are granular.
Dorsally, the canyon lizard is gray, tan, or reddish-brown, matching the rocks on which it lives. There are four rows of dark spots on the back, and a vertical black line in front of the front leg. Males have blue and black lines on the throat.[ Conant R (1975). ''A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition''. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1–48. (paperback). (''Sceloporus merriami'', pp. 106–107 + Plate 16 + Map 62).]
Subspecies
The seven recognized subspecies
In Taxonomy (biology), biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (Morphology (biology), morpholog ...
of ''S. merriami'', including the nominotypical subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics ( morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. ...
, are:[
*'' Sceloporus merriami annulatus'' H.M. Smith, 1937 – Big Bend canyon lizard
*'' Sceloporus merriami australis'' K.L. Williams, H.M. Smith & Chrapliwy, 1960 – southeastern canyon lizard
*'' Sceloporus merriami ballingeri'' Lemos-Espinal, H.M. Smith, Auth & Chiszar, 2001 – Ballinger's canyon lizard][
*'' Sceloporus merriami longipunctatus'' Olson, 1973 – Presidio canyon lizard
*'' Sceloporus merriami merriami'' Stejneger, 1904 – Merriam's canyon lizard][
*'' Sceloporus merriami williamsi'' Lemos-Espinal, Chiszar & H.M. Smith, 2000 – Williams' canyon lizard]
References
Further reading
* Behler JL, King FW (1979). ''The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians''. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. . (''Sceloporus merriami'', pp. 524–525 + Plate 368).
* Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). ''Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition''. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp. 47 plates, 207 figures. . (''Sceloporus merriami'', pp. 296–297, Figure 141 + Plate 27).
* Stejneger L (1904). "A New Lizard from the Rio Grande Valley, Texas". ''Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington'' 17: 17–20. (''Sceloporus merriami'', new species).
*Stejneger L, Barbour T (1917). ''A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (''Sceloporus merriami'', p. 55).
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4892876
Sceloporus
Reptiles of Mexico
Reptiles of the United States
Reptiles described in 1904
Taxa named by Leonhard Stejneger