The Granite Spiny Lizard (Sceloporous orcutii) is a non-venomous lizard found as far north as Riverside County and as far south as La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Active mostly from spring to fall, it will shelter in cracks and crevices of rocks and granite boulders. It’s an excellent climber and will quickly run away from danger; however, it is known to bite when captured.  Did you know? With a blue belly and purple stripes down its back, the male Granite Spiny Lizard tends to be more colorful than its female counterpart. To learn more about the Granite Spiny Lizard, visit the San Diego Natural History Museum’s Amphibian and Reptile Atlas of Peninsular California.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bradford D. Hollingsworth, SDNHM