Reptiles
Texas Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus olivaceus · also called Texas spiny lizards
A hiker circles a large oak tree in central Texas, and a Texas spiny lizard circles right along with them on the opposite side of the trunk, keeping the wood between them the entire way around without ever quite deciding to make a run for it.
Overview
The Texas spiny lizard, Sceloporus olivaceus, is a large, rough-scaled lizard native to woodland and grassland edge habitat across central and southern Texas and adjacent northeastern Mexico. Its habit of spiralling around tree trunks to avoid a threat and its notably spiny scales make it one of the more recognisable and behaviourally distinctive lizards found in its range.
A game of hide-and-seek with a tree trunk
Rather than bolting the moment it feels threatened, the Texas spiny lizard instead plays a slower, more strategic game, using a tree trunk’s own bulk to stay just out of sight while holding onto the perch it was already using.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and common across suitable woodland and grassland edge habitat throughout central and southern Texas and northeastern Mexico.
Texas Spiny Lizard: common questions
Why does a Texas spiny lizard circle around a tree trunk?
A Texas spiny lizard often spirals around the far side of a tree trunk or post to keep the solid wood between itself and an approaching person or predator, a defensive strategy that lets the lizard stay hidden from view while still remaining on its preferred elevated perch rather than fleeing to the ground.
How big does a Texas spiny lizard get?
The Texas spiny lizard ranks among the larger species within its genus, with adults reaching a greater total length than many of its smaller Sceloporus relatives found elsewhere in North America.
Why does the Texas spiny lizard feel rough to the touch?
The Texas spiny lizard has notably rough, keeled scales that give its skin a distinctly spiny texture and appearance, a feature directly reflected in the species' common name and shared broadly across other spiny lizard species in the same genus.
Where does the Texas spiny lizard live?
The Texas spiny lizard is native to woodland and grassland edge habitat across central and southern Texas and adjacent northeastern Mexico, generally favouring large trees, old wooden fence posts, and utility poles as perches.