I often see this reptile while driving through the Cerbat Mountains in Arizona; I have also encountered it in Zion National Park in Utah.

This is a relatively small lizard with brown to golden-brown coloration and pointed, keeled, overlapping scales. It can sport a range of striped or blotched patterns.

The Plateau Fence Lizard is usually encountered in relatively open, sunlit areas with plenty of basking sites such as rock piles, wood piles, and fallen logs.

This sit-and-wait predator watches for prey and makes occasional forays from perches to capture its food. It feeds on a variety of insects including termites, ants, beetles, grasshoppers, flies, larvae and wasps. It also eats a variety of spiders, snails, and small lizards.

These reptiles are active during the day. During the Summer, they are most active mid-morning and late afternoon. Males will head bob, do push ups, and even puff themselves up to warn-off other individuals. In Spring and Fall they can be active all day long.

Plateau Lizards were formerly considered to be a subspecies of Eastern Fence Lizard, but were elevated to a separate species in 2002.

These lizards, like Fence Lizards, are habitat generalists. They can be found on the ground, on rocks, on logs and even in areas heavily disturbed by people.

It’s nice to have a leisurely drive up the mountains and see these reptiles perched on rocks, catching the sun’s rays and hoping for an insect to come within catching range.

Third Eye Herp
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