Aspidoscelis hyperythrus (Cope, 1863)

Dorsal Striping

Aspidoscelis hyperythrus has five or six light-colored stripes running along its black, brown, or grey dorsal side. The middle stripe may be forked at both ends.

Ventral and Throat Coloration

The ventral side of this species is whitish-yellow or cream, and it has an orange throat, though females and juveniles may not have this orange marking.

Head and Tongue Features

Its head ranges from yellow-brown to olive in color, and its tongue is forked and flicked continuously.

Adult Body Length

The species has a snout-to-vent length of 5–7.2 centimetres, or 2.0–2.8 inches.

Juvenile Coloration

Juveniles have cobalt blue legs and tails.

Adult Ventral Orange Markings

The entire ventral surface, including the tail, of males may be orange; gravid females may also have some orange, particularly along the lower jaw.

Breeding Season Coloration

The species' colors are most distinct during the breeding season.

Femoral Pore Dimorphism

Males have larger femoral pores than females.

Native Distribution

Aspidoscelis hyperythrus is native to southern California in the United States, and to the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur in Mexico.