#1612 · 🦎 reptiles

Common Side-blotched Lizard

🇳🇱 Gevlekte leguaan ·Uta stansburiana

LCleast concern 🦎 Reptiles 📍 outside Europe

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © David Kaposi · CC BY-NC 4.0
2. © uzun · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. © u_phantasticus · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. © J. N. Stuart · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
5. © Andrea Kreuzhage · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. © Andrea Carpio · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. © uzun · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. © Mel · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. © Pete Zani (born @ 325 ppm) · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. © Vince Scheidt · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

The common side-blotched lizard ( Uta stansburiana ) is a species of side-blotched lizard found on the Pacific Coast of North America. It is notable for having a unique form of polymorphism wherein each of the three different male morphs utilizes a different strategy in acquiring mates. The three morphs compete against each other following a pattern of rock, paper, scissors, where one morph has advantages over another but is outcompeted by the third.

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 89,847iNaturalist observations
threat LCleast concern

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
89,847 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by Spencer Fullerton Baird in 1852 (174 years ago).