The Texas spiny lizard, hiding in plain sight
by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist

One quiet Sunday afternoon, the mesquite tree offered a strange silhouette. I did a double-take, sucked in my breath and realized I was about to capture, on camera, something I’d been after for months: the Texas Spiny Lizard, in its favorite haunt — the trunk of a mesquite tree.

I silently crept out the back door, peeked around the corner of the house and started shooting.

The Texas spiny lizard, Sceloporus olivaceus, is quite shy and will scurry off at the first sign of threat. I slowly advanced, and shot at intervals, until I was too close and it zipped off around the tree trunk and quickly disappeared.

Through the lens, it was difficult distinguishing the lizard from the tree bark, which is true to its adeptness at camouflage. The body of the lizard was nearly as grey as the mesquite tree bark. The colors and scale patterns help to provide adequate camouflage against the bark of trees. Once uploaded to the computer, this particular specimen’s beautiful colorings were noticeable, showing off navy blue and peach colored scales.

Although favoring mesquite, they also can be found on oak, pecan and cedar trees. Adult Texas spiny lizards are seven-and-a-half to 11 inches in length, measuring nose to tail tip. They have a long tail and long toes with sharp claws suited for climbing trees, fences and utility poles. The large dorsal scales have a distinct spiny texture.

In North America, Texas spiny lizards are found south of the Oklahoma and Texas state line, through central Texas and into northern and eastern Mexico. They are tree-dwellers and are active during the day with a period of inactivity at night.

This species of lizard breeds in early spring. Females may lay eggs about four times a year with each clutch averaging 14 eggs. The eggs are laid in the soil and hatch in 50 to 60 days.

The Texas spiny lizard is often confused with the protected Texas horned lizard. Texas spiny lizards are significantly larger than the Texas horned lizard, which is between four and six inches in length.

The horned lizard has a triangular shaped head with horns; the spiny lizard has a more elongated, smooth head. Texas horned lizards do not climb trees; they run and forage for food on the ground and feed almost exclusively on harvester ants.

Texas spiny lizards are good friends to keep around the yard. They feed on insects and other arthropods like centipedes, millipedes, mites, ticks, mosquitoes, June bugs, grasshoppers, scorpions, stink bugs and many others and occasionally flying insects.

However beautiful this particular lizard is, with its pretty face and colorful scales, it’s always best to leave lizards alone, where they can do the most good in a garden. And as friendly as it looks, it’s not opposed to biting the hand that tries to capture it.

The Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist
develops knowledgeable volunteers dedicated to the study and conservation of
natural resources and natural areas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and helps
the natural world through service, outreach and education.