Male Blue Belly Lizard Habitat

The male western fence lizard's bright blue sides and throat earned it the nickname blue-belly lizard. This adaptable reptile thrives in a wide range of habitats in the western United States, but not in the desert.

Geography

Male blue-belly lizards live in Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Southern California, Baja California, and an island off the mainland of Baja California.

Terrain

Male blue-belly lizards live in habitats as diverse as scrub-strewn coastal areas and the forested slopes of 6,000-foot-tall mountains.

Lookout

True to its name, the male blue-bellied western fence lizard prefers to perch on fence posts and tall rocks to spot its prey. Because this makes it vulnerable to predators, it can change its coloration to blend in with the habitat.

Prey

The male blue-belly lizard is a carnivore, subsisting on the insects native to the habitat in which it lives, e.g., ants, aphids and beetles.

Predators

Hawks, coyotes and snakes (especially the striped racer and king snake) eat blue-bellied western fence lizards. Blue-bellies are agile and swift so they can escape these natural enemies.

References

• San Diego Natural History Museum
• UC Integrated Pest Management - Lizards