The eastern fence lizard is a medium sized rough-scaled lizard native to forest edges and rotting stumps in the United States. Fence lizard is the member of spiny lizard family and range from nearly black to brown color. Fence lizards are tree climbers and when encountered on ground, they usually run to the nearby tree and climb up.
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Phrynosomatidae
Sceloporus
Sceloporous undulatus
Table Of Content
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Phrynosomatidae
Sceloporus
Sceloporous undulatus
Table of Contents
Unlike other species of lizards, Eastern fence lizards have external ear openings.
Sub-Species
There are six sub-species of Eastern fence lizard:
Southern Fence Lizard
Northern Plateau Lizard
Red-lipped Plateau Lizard
Northern Prairie Lizard
Northern Fence Lizard
Southern Plateau Lizard
Physical description
Length: The lizard stretches to a length of 4-7 inches.
Weight: Adult fence lizards weigh 15 gm.
Eastern fence lizard
Bodycolor: They are gray or light brown in color.
Scales: fence lizards have keeled scales with shady lines in a row along their backs.
Habitat
This species is most common along the forest edges and is also seen inhabiting rotting logs. They are often spotted on fence railings, which is the reason for their name.
Distribution
The Eastern fence lizard is widely seen in Georgia, California, Alabama, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, southern New Jersey and northern Florida. Isolated populations of these lizards do exist outside this range, however.
Behavior
They have interesting behavioral characteristics:
The fence lizards are most active in the months of spring and in the fall
They are a diurnal species and are often seen dashing off a rock where they seem to have been basking.
They will lay motionless if you flip them over in your hand and run your finger along their belly.
They hibernate during winter
Diet
Eastern Fence lizards are carnivorous, and eat spiders and small insects such as grasshoppers.
Eastern fence lizard Photo
Adaptations
Their skin color helps them to hide from their predators
Fence lizards can stay motionless for a long time.
Predators
Their main predator is the fire ant, and studies have shown that these ants are capable of devouring a lizard within minutes. Other predators include Broadhead skinks, several types of birds, snakes, and many other carnivores.
Hibernation
They hibernate in the winter season and emerge in spring.
Mating Season
Eastern fence lizards mate in early spring or at the beginning of summer.
Reproduction
After emerging in the spring, male lizards set up their mating territories. The moment other males and females move inside the boundary of their territory, the male lizard will display behaviors that include push-ups showing off their bright, blue colored extension of the dewlap.
The female lizard lays 3-10 eggs of elliptical shape in a nest in the soil. Yearlings are capable of laying 1 clutch per season. Older females lay anywhere from 2-4 clutches per breeding season. Eggs are hatched between June and September.
Baby Eastern fence lizard
Life Cycle
The eggs hatch in 60-80 days. After one month juveniles start climbing up trees in search of food.
Lifespan
Their lifespan varies depending on the region they inhabit. In the south they live more than 2 years (60% die before reaching 1 year of age). In the north, their lifespan can be to 4 to 8 years, due to their hibernation in colder weather.
Interesting facts
There is much more to know about these interesting reptiles:
Fence lizards love basking in the sun
They bear a close resemblance to the western fence lizard.
A recent study stipulated that these lizards have developed longer legs in order to be able to run away from the invasive fire ant.
