Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've seen three Texas Spiny Lizards here in NM so far, so maybe they should change the map in the Audubon book showing that they are also in NM.

Anyway... I found one in a bucket today and rescued it. This one was smaller than the other ones I've seen. Maybe a baby or a female I don't know. I'm not that familiar. The collar was lighter too. So, it escapes from my hand and lands in my doorway and disappears into my home. So, now how do I get it out? Any suggestions?

MissHisssss

Not sure what part of NM you are in but, pretty sure they do not range into NM. Texas spiney lizards do not have collars. Chances are you have Crevice Spiney lizards. I have seen lots of them all around South East NM.

Sooner or later he will show up in your house, just catch it again and put it outside.

Good luck.

ECT

I live right next to El Paso Texas in Chaparral. I've seen them at the stables right across the state line. It didn't have a collar. I left the door open for a while and I saw one just like it on the wall out side a few days later. It stopped to look at me as if to say that he made it out ok. I saw one on my screen door a few years ago too (an older version or perhaps a male) and took a picture of it but it didn't come out very well. Even if it did I wouldn't know how to get it on this site.

Do you have any pics of these? It appears you are a significant distance from the known range of Sceloporus olivaceus. Have you considered either Sceloporus undulatus or Sceloporus bimaculosus (Sceloporus magister bimaculosus or S magister) as possible ids? Both these species of Sceloporus occur in your area.

It could be the Sceloporus bimaculosus but it looked just like a Texas Spiny Lizard I saw just a few miles from here in Texas, that lives in the tree at the stables I visit. I have a picture of the one in my area but it was on my screen door looking in at me and it's difficult to see it's pattern. I've just recently seen them around here and with my being so close to El Paso Texas I could imagine they could have crossed over like several other species have. We even have Desert Kings in Otero county NM where they didn't used to be. So, can the Sceloporus bimaculosus be in Texas?