Compare two species

Common Side-blotched Lizard vs. Northern Alligator Lizard

Both live in southern Idaho. The Common Side-blotched Lizard has a dark blotch on the side just behind the front leg and tiny grainy back scales; the Northern Alligator Lizard has squarish scales in neat rows like armour and a deep fold along the side. A: Common Side-blotched Lizard, a dark blue-black blotch on the side just behind the front leg; Northern Alligator Lizard, no collar or blotch; a deep fold of skin along the side. B: Common Side-blotched Lizard, tiny, grainy scales: not spiny; Northern Alligator Lizard, squarish, keeled scales in neat rows, like armour. C: Common Side-blotched Lizard, speckled with pale blue (males) or dark blotches and pale stripes (females); Northern Alligator Lizard, dark crossbars flecked with white.

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Common Side-blotched Lizard

Uta stansburiana

Northern Alligator Lizard

Elgaria coerulea

Photographs via iNaturalist under Creative Commons licences; the photographers are credited on the sheet.

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