Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard
(Sceloporus magister)
The yellow-backed spiny lizard is a common lizard in our desert, they can even be quite common in urbanized areas. Their stocky bodies are about 3-5 inches in length covered in spiny scales. Females often have an orange to pinkish colored head, while the larger males have a gray to cream colored body with dark blotches and blue bellies. They feed on a variety of insects, lizards, larvae, ants, beetles, and caterpillars. They can often be seen basking on large boulders, fence posts, or climbing trees.
