top of page

Lizards of Zihuatanejo

SUBORDER​ SAURIA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Reptiles (Class Reptilia)

-​Snakes and Lizards (Order Squamata)

-Lizards (Suborder​ Sauria)

-Phrynosomatid Lizards (Family Phrynosomatidae)

-Sceloporine Lizards (Subfamily Sceloporinae)

-Spiny Lizards (Genus Sceloporus)

-Black-nosed Lizard (Sceloporus melanorhinus)


The Sceloporus melanorhinus, or Black-nosed Lizard, is native to the southern United States and Mexico. This species lives in a variety of habitats including deserts, grasslands, and woodlands. Their diet consists primarily of insects, but they will also eat other small invertebrates. This species is very active during the day, and is often seen basking in the sun. They have a black nose , and their overall coloration ranges from grey to brown.

Black-nosed Lizard

Sceloporus melanorhinus

Description

  • Sceloporus melanorhinus is a medium-sized spiny lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae, commonly called the black-nosed spiny lizard. It has a robust body, strongly keeled and spiny dorsal scales, a relatively long tail, and a distinctive dark or black marking on the snout. Males may develop more vivid blue, green, or yellow colouring on the throat and belly, particularly during the breeding season.

Range

  • Sceloporus melanorhinus is endemic to western Mexico, occurring along the Pacific slope. It occurs in the Zihuatanejo region, including the surrounding coastal and foothill habitats.

Habitat

  • It inhabits tropical dry forest, thorn woodland, scrub, rocky slopes, forest edges, and open woodland, from low elevations into foothill areas. It is primarily terrestrial and saxicolous, often basking on rocks, tree trunks, fallen logs, and other exposed surfaces, retreating quickly into crevices or dense vegetation when disturbed.

Diet

  • Sceloporus melanorhinus is primarily insectivorous, feeding on ants, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, and other small arthropods. Larger individuals may occasionally take small lizards or other suitable animal prey, while plant material is eaten only incidentally.

bottom of page