The Florida scrub lizard occurs
in scrubs and sand pine forests in central Florida and
along both coasts in southern Florida. The Florida scrub lizard (total length up to
6") is similar to the wide-spread fence lizard (S.
undulatus) but has a prominent brown stripe on each
side and spends more time on the ground. This one is perched on a
fire-blackened sand pine. Scrub lizards are sexually dimorphic: adult males have bright turquoise patches on the throat and belly which females
lack. Scrub lizards are patient predators, ambushing
insects and spiders from perches on the ground or low on
tree trunks. Several populations of Florida scrub lizards
in southwest Florida have gone extinct in the last few
years due to development of their scrub habitat, and the
species is critically threatened in that area. One of the
best places to see them is in Ocala National Forest where
they are still common.
The Florida scrub lizard occurs
in scrubs and sand pine forests in central Florida and
along both coasts in southern Florida. The Florida scrub lizard (total length up to
6") is similar to the wide-spread fence lizard (S.
undulatus) but has a prominent brown stripe on each
side and spends more time on the ground. This one is perched on a
fire-blackened sand pine. Scrub lizards are sexually dimorphic: adult males have bright turquoise patches on the throat and belly which females
lack. Scrub lizards are patient predators, ambushing
insects and spiders from perches on the ground or low on
tree trunks. Several populations of Florida scrub lizards
in southwest Florida have gone extinct in the last few
years due to development of their scrub habitat, and the
species is critically threatened in that area. One of the
best places to see them is in Ocala National Forest where
they are still common.
