General Distribution
Widely distributed in montane chaparral, hardwood and conifer habitats, eastside pine and
juniper habitats, and Great Basin shrub habitats of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, and also
east of the Sierra-Cascade crest in northern California. Isolated populations exist at Sutter
Buttes in the Sacramento Valley, in the Coast Ranges along the entire length of the state, in
the mountains of southern California, and in the desert mountains of Inyo County. Elevation:
900-3200 m (3000-10,400 ft). Habitat Requirements
When disturbed these lizards most often take cover in dense, low growing bushes
or shrubs. They also hide in mammal burrows, rock crevices, and under surface objects.
Individuals bask on the ground, on low branches of bushes, on low boulders. Mammal
burrows and rock crevices may serve as hibernation sites during cold periods. Reproduction
The reproductive season usually extends from late May to July. Egg-laying
usually occurs in June or July (Stebbins 1954), and females lay between 2 and 7 eggs with
larger females producing the most eggs. Goldberg (1975) reported that a large percentage of
the females in the mountains of southern California lay two clutches of eggs per year. Newly
emergent hatchlings have been observed from mid-August to late September. Ferguson
(1971) reported that some individuals may form long-term pair bonds. Daily/Seasonal Activity
Activity is almost exclusively diurnal. The length of the warm-season
activity varies geographically and from year to year, but at most localities individuals are
active from March or April to late September or early October. Juveniles appear to be active
later in the fall than adults.
Significant seasonal movement or migration has not
been reported for this species. Lizards may occasionally move outside the normal area of
activity to find suitable nest sites for egg-laying, or to find hibernation sites. Diet and Foraging
Rose (1976a) found that in the central Coast Ranges sagebrush lizards took
almost exclusively small arthropods, especially ants and beetles. A wide variety of other
insects, as well as spiders, ticks, mites, scorpions, and other arthropods are also taken.
Cannibalism has been reported. Territoriality/Home Range
Males are more active, especially in spring (Ferguson 1971), and have
larger home ranges (Stebbins 1944) than females. Stebbins (1944) reported the average
longest overland movement for males during one year was 24 m (82 ft), while that for females
was 18 m (59 ft).
Males defend territories both during and after the reproductive season
(Ferguson 1971). An area with a length of up to 7.5 m (25 ft) is vigorously defended from rival
conspecific males, especially during the reproductive season. Territorial defense is
accomplished by posturing and physical combat. Predator-Prey Relations
Sagebrush lizards are important prey items for a variety of vertebrate species,
including snakes (especially striped whipsnakes and night snakes) and predatory birds. Literature Cited
Burkholder, G. L. 1973. Life history and ecology of the Great Basin sagebrush swift,
Sceloporus graciosus graciosus Baird and Girard, 1852. Ph.D. Thesis, Brigham Young
Univ. 213pp.
Ferguson, G. W. 1971. Observations on the behavior and interactions of two sympatric
Sceloporus in Utah. Am. Midl. Nat. 86:190-196.
Goldberg, S. R. 1975. Reproduction in the sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus graciosus. Am.
Midl. Nat. 93:177-187.
Nussbaum, R. A., E. D. Brodie, Jr., and R. M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and reptiles of the
Pacific Northwest. Univ. Press of Idaho. 332pp.
Rose, B. R. 1976a. Dietary overlap of Sceloporus occidentalis and Sceloporus graciosus.
Copeia 1976:818-820.
Rose, B. R. 1976b. Habitat and prey selection of Sceloporus occidentalis and Sceloporus
graciosus. Ecology 57:531-541.
Stebbins, R. C. 1944. Field notes on a lizard, the mountain swift, with special reference to
territorial behavior. Ecology 25:233-245.
Stebbins, R. C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill,
New York. 536pp.
Information gathered from California DFG - California Interagency Wildlife Task Group
