''Sceloporus occidentalis taylori'' is a
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 the
western fence lizard
The western fence lizard (''Sceloporus occidentalis'') is a species of lizard native to Arizona, New Mexico, and California, as well as Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Northern Mexico. The species is widely found in its native range ...
, commonly called the Sierra fence lizard. Several
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 the western fence lizard, a species of
phrynosomatid 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 ...
, are found in the far western part of
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
. The subspecific epithet, ''taylori'', is in honor of American
herpetologist
Herpetology (from Ancient Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is a branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, salamanders, and caecilians (Gymnophiona)) and reptiles (in ...
Edward Harrison Taylor
Edward Harrison Taylor (April 23, 1889 – June 16, 1978) was an American herpetologist from Missouri.
Early life
Taylor was born in Maysville, Missouri, to George and Loretta Taylor. He had an older brother, Eugene.
Taylor studied at the Uni ...
.
[Beltz, Ellin. 2006. Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained. http://ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html.]
See also
*
Coast Range fence lizard
''Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii'', commonly known as the Coast Range fence lizard, is a subspecies of ''Sceloporus occidentalis'', the Western fence lizard.
Geographic range
This taxon, ''S. o. bocourtii'', is found in the state of Californi ...
*
Island fence lizard
An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been ...
*
Northwestern fence lizard
Notes
Bibliography
* Hobart M. Smith (1995) ''Handbook of Lizards: Lizards of the United States and of Canada'', Cornell University Press, 557 pages
* C. Michael Hogan (2008) "Western fence lizard (''Sceloporus occidentalis'')", Globaltwitcher, ed. Nicklas Stromber
Sceloporus
Fauna of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
{{Phrynosomatidae-stub