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Tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus) are among the most common lizards in the southwestern United States. You can often find them warming themselves in a sunny spot on a tree, fence, or wall, waiting for an insect snack to come crawling or flying by. Males have bright blue bellies and colored dewlaps. Females have orange dewlaps, but no blue belly patches. Look on your backyard fence for tree lizards in the summer.
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| Tree lizards come in different color types (morphs). On the left is a blue morph and on the right is a green morph. Images by Brad and Lynn Weinert. | |
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| A close look at the underside of a tree lizard that is showing off come bright orange and blue color (left) and its great camouflage pattern that makes it hard for its predators to see (right). Images by Tom McDonald. | |
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| Tree lizard camouflage in action. Two places you are likely to see these lizards, a rock (left) and their favorite hang out, a tree (right). Images by Brad and Lynn Weinert (left) and Tom McDonald (right). | |
About the photographers: Brad and Lynn Weinert are nature photographers. You can see more of their work at Brad and Lynn's Field Photos (herpindiego.com). Tom McDonald is a Docent Instructor at Tohono Chul Park. These photographs are copyrighted and used with their permission.
Gold box image of ornate tree lizard via Wikimedia Commons by Leyo.
View Citation
Bibliographic details:
- Article: Tree Lizard Gallery
- Author(s): Danika Painter
- Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
- Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
- Date published: September 16, 2009
- Date accessed: January 9, 2025
- Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/tree-lizard-gallery
APA Style
Danika Painter. (2009, September 16). Tree Lizard Gallery. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved January 9, 2025 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/tree-lizard-gallery
Chicago Manual of Style
Danika Painter. "Tree Lizard Gallery". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 16 September, 2009. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/tree-lizard-gallery
Danika Painter. "Tree Lizard Gallery". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 16 Sep 2009. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 9 Jan 2025. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/tree-lizard-gallery
MLA 2017 Style
Ornate Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus).
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