Description

• Urosaurus bicarinatus is a small, slender tree lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae, commonly called the central tree lizard. It has a relatively short body, long tail, slender limbs, and strongly keeled dorsal scales. Adults are usually grey, brown, or olive with darker mottling and pale markings; males may develop vivid blue or turquoise colouring on the throat and belly.

Range

• Urosaurus bicarinatus is endemic to western and southern Mexico, occurring along the Pacific slope. It occurs in the Zihuatanejo region.

Habitat

• It inhabits tropical dry forest, thorn woodland, scrub, forest edges, rocky areas, and disturbed habitats. It is primarily arboreal and commonly perches on tree trunks, branches, fences, and walls, where it basks and quickly retreats into crevices or dense vegetation when disturbed.

Diet

• Urosaurus bicarinatus is primarily insectivorous, feeding on ants, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, spiders, and other small arthropods. It is an active visual hunter and may occasionally take other small invertebrates or suitably sized prey.