Plateau fence lizard

File:Plateau Fence Lizard (Sceloporus tristichus) (53936851423).jpg

At up to {{Convert|80|mm}} from snout to vent,{{Cite web|title=Sceloporus tristichus|url=http://www.nmherpsociety.org/reptiles/lizards/sceloporustristichus/index.html|access-date=2021-07-13|website=New Mexico Herpetological Society}} the plateau fence lizard is a grayish, brownish, or greenish lizard. The upper side of its body has keeled scales and there is a series of narrow dark brown cross-bands on both sides of the midline. An elongated metallic blue patch can be found on each side of the belly and each side of the throat.{{Cite web|last1=Mathies|first1=Tom|last2=Ehrenberger|first2=Joseph|date=2014-01-20|title=Plateau Fence Lizard|url=http://www.coparc.org/plateau-fence-lizard.html|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Colorado Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation|publisher=Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation}}

Males are typically smaller than females, as with many squamates, with males and females in Montezuma County, Colorado measuring {{Convert|63|mm|abbr=on}} and {{Convert|67|mm|abbr=on}}, respectively.

The plateau fence lizard is generally found in central Arizona, southwestern Utah, western Colorado, and the San Luis Valley. It can also be found in parts of New Mexico and Wyoming.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-02|title=Sceloporus tristichus|url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.768725/Sceloporus_tristichus|access-date=2021-07-13|website=NatureServe}}

The plateau fence lizard generally dwells in rocky and wooded areas, making use of canyon walls, boulder-strewn hillsides, fallen tree trunks, and other debris and vantage points.

The plateau fence lizard is inactive during cold periods and the hottest part of the day in summer.

The lizard consumes mainly insects, spiders, and other arthropods.

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• {{Commons category-inline|Sceloporus tristichus}}

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Category:Lizards of North America

Category:Sceloporus

Category:Reptiles of the United States

Category:Reptiles described in 1875

Category:Taxa named by Edward Drinker Cope