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Side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana) are small, attractive animals found throughout much of the western US. As their name implies, they have a dark spot (barely visible here) in the 'armpit' behind the front legs. Side-blotched lizards are slightly sexually dimorphic, and males (which are somewhat larger and more colorful than females) apparently occur in several genetically-determined color morphs (primarily of throat color: blue, orange, yellow) that show different levels of territorial behavior and aggression. In some places, the frequencies of the different male morphs cycle from year to year. These were in the Box Springs Mountains near Riverside, CA. |
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