Twin-Spotted Spiny

A large (up to about 142 mm or 5.6" from snout to vent), stocky lizard with large, pointed, keeled, overlapping scales. Base coloration is gray, tan, or brown. Males have two longitudinal rows of dark blotches on the back. Yellow or orange scales are sporadically scattered on the sides of the body. A black wedge shape marks each shoulder. Males have two large, bright, blue-green patches on the belly and a blue-green patch on the throat. Belly and throat patches are faint or absent in females. Its large, black, wedge-shaped shoulder markings distinguish this lizard from many of Arizona's other Sceloporus. Its rows of dark blotches on the back (in adult males) distinguish this lizard from the Desert Spiny Lizard. Its lack of bars on the forelimbs distinguish it from Clark's Spiny Lizard. The similar Yarrow's Spiny Lizard has a complete collar.