Urosaurus ornatus (BAIRD & GIRARD, 1852)
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Urosaurus ornatus
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| Higher Taxa | Phrynosomatidae, Sceloporinae; Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | Urosaurus ornatus ornatus (BAIRD & GIRARD 1852) Urosaurus ornatus caeruleus (SMITH 1935) Urosaurus ornatus chiricahuae (MITTLEMAN 1941) Urosaurus ornatus lateralis (BOULENGER 1883) Urosaurus ornatus levis (STEJNEGER 1890) Urosaurus ornatus linearis (BAIRD 1859) Urosaurus ornatus schmidti (MITTLEMAN 1940) Urosaurus ornatus schottii (BAIRD 1859) Urosaurus ornatus symmetricus (BAIRD 1859) Urosaurus ornatus wrighti (SCHMIDT 1921) |
| Common Names | Tree Lizard levis: Smooth Tree Lizard schmidti: Big Bend Tree Lizard schottii: Schott’s Tree Lizard symmetricus: Colorado River Tree Lizard S: Roñito Ornado |
| Synonym | Uta ornata BAIRD & GIRARD 1852 Uta ornata — BOULENGER 1885: 213 Uta ornata ornata — SCHMIDT 1921 Uta ornata ornata — SMITH 1935: 178 Urosaurus ornatus ornatus – MITTLEMAN 1942: 133 Urosaurus ornatus ornatus — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950: 142 Uta ornata — BRADLEY & DEACON 1966 Urosaurus ornatus — STEBBINS 1985: 136 Urosaurus ornatus — LINER 1994 Urosaurus ornatus — CONANT & COLLINS 1991: 111 Urosaurus ornatus — CROTHER et al. 2012 Urosaurus ornatus caeruleus (SMITH 1935) Uta caerulea SMITH 1935: 172 Urosaurus ornatus caeruleus – MITTLEMAN 1942: 136 Urosaurus ornatus caeruleus — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950: 143 Urosaurus ornatus caeruleus — TANNER 1987 Urosaurus ornatus chiricahuae (MITTLEMAN 1941) Uta ornata chiricahuae MITTLEMAN 1941: 165 Urosaurus ornatus lateralis (BOULENGER 1883) Uta lateralis BOULENGER 1883 Uta ornata lateralis — VAN DENBURGH 1922 Uta ornata lateralis — SMITH 1935: 179 Uta ornata lateralis — TAYLOR 1938: 483 Urosaurus ornatus lateralis — LEWIS 1956 Urosaurus ornatus lateralis — HARDY 1969: 140 Urosaurus ornatus levis (STEJNEGER 1890) Uta levis STEJNEGER 1890: 108 Uta levis — COPE 1900 Uta levis — BURT 1933 Urosaurus ornatus levis — MITTLEMAN 1942 Urosaurus ornatus levis— CROTHER 2000: 55 Urosaurus ornatus levis — CROTHER et al. 2012 Urosaurus ornatus schmidti (MITTLEMAN 1941) Uta ornata schmidti MITTLEMAN 1941: 33 Urosaurus ornatus schmidti — MITTLEMAN 1942 Urosaurus ornatus schmidti — JAMESON & FLURY 1949 Urosaurus ornatus schmidti — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950: 143 Urosaurus ornatus schmidti — TANNER 1987 Urosaurus ornatus schmidti — CONANT & COLLINS 1991: 111 Urosaurus ornatus schmidti — BARTLETT & BARTLETT 1999: 236 Urosaurus ornatus schmidti — CROTHER 2000: 55 Urosaurus ornatus schmidti — CROTHER et al. 2012 Urosaurus ornatus schottii (BAIRD 1859) Uta schottii BAIRD 1859: 253 Uta ornata var. linearis BAIRD 1859: 7 Uta (Phymatolepis) lateralis BOULENGER 1883: 342 Uta gularis CRAGIN 1884: 7 Uta lateralis — BOULENGER 1885: 214 Uta lateralis — GÜNTHER 1885: 61 Uta ornata linearis — SCHMIDT 1921: 6 Uta ornata lateralis — VAN DENBURGH 1922: 199 Uta ornata schottii — MITTLEMAN 1941: 136 Uta ornata chiricahuae MITTLEMAN 1941 Urosaurus ornatus chiricahuae — MITTLEMAN 1942 Urosaurus ornatus schottii — MITTLEMAN 1942: 149 Urosaurus ornatus linearis — MITTLEMAN 1942 Urosaurus ornatus schottii — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950: 144 Urosaurus ornatus linearis — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950: 143 Urosaurus ornatus chiricahuae — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950: 143 Urosaurus ornatus schottii — TANNER 1987 Urosaurus ornatus schottii — CROTHER 2000: 55 Urosaurus ornatus schottii — LEMOS-ESPINAL et al. 2004 Urosaurus ornatus schottii — CROTHER et al. 2012 Urosaurus ornatus symmetricus (BAIRD 1859) Uta symmetrica BAIRD 1859: 253 Uta symmetrica — COPE 1880: 16 Uta symmetrica — BOULENGER 1885: 213 Uta symmetrica — COPE 1900 Uta ornata symmetrica — SCHMIDT 1921: 6 Uta ornata symmetrica — GLOYD 1937 Uta ornata symmetrica — KLAUBER 1939 Urosaurus ornatus symmetricus — MITTLEMAN 1942: 142 Urosaurus ornatus symmetricus — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950: 144 Urosaurus ornatus symmetricus — ETHERIDGE 1964 Urosaurus ornatus symmetricus — RAU 1977 Urosaurus ornatus symmetricus — CROTHER 2000: 55 Urosaurus ornatus symmetricus — CROTHER et al. 2012 Urosaurus ornatus wrighti (SCHMIDT 1921) Uta wrigthi SCHMIDT 1921 Urosaurus ornatus wrighti — MITTLEMAN 1942: Urosaurus ornatus wrighti — CMIWEB 2003 Urosaurus ornatus wrighti — CROTHER et al. 2012 |
| Distribution | USA (SE California, S Nevada, Utah, W Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, SW/C Texas), Mexico (Sonora, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Chihuahua, N Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León ?) ornatus: USA (C/S Texas, along the Rio Grande River), Mexico (south to N Coahuila). Type locality: Restricted to Río San Pedro [= Devils River], Val Verde County, Texas. caeruleus: Mexico (C Chihuahua). Type locality: 30 miles north of Chihuahua City, Chihuahua. chiricahuae: USA (Chiricahua and Dos Cabezas Mountains, Arizona). Type locality: Pinery Canyon, Chiricahua Mountains, 6000 fett, Cochise County, Arizona. lateralis: Mexico (Sinaloa); Type locality: restricted to Presidio, Sinaloa (Oliver 1943: 97) linearis: USA (S Arizona, S New Mexico), Mexico (southward to N Sonora and Chihuahua). Type locality: Los Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. schmidti: USA (SW Texas, New Mexico), Mexico (N Chihuahua). Type locality: Fort Davis, Jeff Davis County, Texas. schottii: Mexico (C Sonora and southward to S Sinaloa, Tres Marías Islands, Tiburón Island). Type locality: ”Sta. Madelina, Cal.-Mex. Boundary Survey” [= Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico ?] symmetricus: USA (S California, Arizona). Mexico (W Sonora, N Baja California). Type locality: Fort Yuma, Imperial County, California. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Syntypes: USNM 2750 (ornatus) Holotype: KU 19237 (Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist.) [caeruleus] Holotype: MVZ UC 7751 [chiricahuae] Holotype: USNM 2759 (lost fide SMITH & TAYLOR 1950). Neotype: USNM 62077 from Los Nogales, Sonora [linearis] Holotype: USNM 32929 [schmidti] Holotype: lost, was USNM 2761 (now lost fide SMITH & TAYLOR 1950) [schottii] Holotype: USNM 2760; now lost (fide SMITH & TAYLOR 1950). Neotype: USNM 2744; original holotype: USNM 2760 lost fide SMITH & TAYLOR 1950 [symmetricus] Holotype: AMNH 18097, male [wrighti] Holotype: USNM 11474, male [levis] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis. One or two rows of enlarged, keeled, imbricate, irregularly arranged vertebral scales, extending from a point slightly caudad of the insertions of the fore-limbs posteriorly to the basal portion of the tail on which they continue for a distance equal to less than half the length of the femur; vertebrals bordered on either side by two series of larger scales which are keeled and prominently imbricate ; enlarged dorsals not regularly dispersed ; scales of primary series approximately twice as large as those of the secondary series; largest of the dorsals superior in size to the enlarged femorals and tibials; other dorsal scales very small, granular, and largely pavemented, or only but slightly imbricate, except for a series on the dorsolateral line which extends from a point anterior to the axilla posteriorly to the groin; anteriorly, this series is continuous and forms a dorsolateral ridge, but posteriorly it is broken up into small clusters of slightly enlarged, tubercular scales around a central, much larger, mucronate scale; diagonally arranged clusters of tubercles absent from lateral areas; on the lateral line a few sparse clusters of barely enlarged tubercles ; a fairly distinct lateral fold; -two prominent series of cervical tubercles which extend posteriorly from the ear and join the dorsolateral series of enlarged scales immediately anterior to the axilla, although rarely they do not so merge, and instead retain their individual identity; ventral to the cervical tubercles and dorsolateral tubercles is usually a third, and often a fourth series of tubercles, which are almost ventral in position; posterior surfaces of thighs and arms covered with small granules similar to those on the sides and dorsum of body, while the antero-dorsal portions of the thighs, and a band around the tibiae are covered with large, mucronate, keeled, imbricate scales; ventrals smooth, rounded to submucronate, about equal in size to the scales forming the posterior edge of the gular fold ; thirteen of the largest dorsal scales equal to the length of the head from snout to posterior border of occipital; frontal transversely divided; femoral pores 10-11; enlarged postanal plates in males conspicuous; a postfemoral dermal pocket regularly present. Coloration (alcoholic) : dorsal surfaces of body and tail grayish to brown, with cross-bars of light brown which are edged with pale blue; head tan with a few pale blotches of blue or gray; limbs dorsally blue-gray with cross-bars of brown; venter of limbs and body whitish, venter of digits tan; tail mottled with light brown anteriorly, and uniformly shaded with the same posteriorly; chin and gular region mottled with blue and brown, labials a dark grayish blue which suffuses onto the lateral portions of the head; venter of limbs and tail, as well as interhumeral and interfemoral areas, heavily stippled with brown or gray; bright blue abdominal patches in males. Description from USNM 83117, male; 7 milts south of Babyhead, Llano County, Texas. Measurements of fifty adults, both sexes; head length, 11.15 mm; head width, 8.08 mm; snout to vent, 42.25 mm; hind leg, 27.60 mm (Mittleman 1942: 133). Diagnosis (caeruleus). Two vertebral rows of enlarged, irregularly arranged, weakly carinated scales, extending from a point slightly craniad of a line joining the anterior points of insertion of the fore-limbs, posteriorly onto the base of the tail for a distance equal to the length of the femur; vertebrals bordered on either side by two series of enlarged, imbricate, weakly carinated scales, the primary series slightly larger than the secondary; largest of the dorsals inferior in size to the largest of the tibials; dorsolateral tubercles but slightly enlarged, and dispersed in irregular little clusters; ventrals rounded, smooth, imbricate; frontal transversely divided; a post-femoral dermal pocket. Coloration of male (from original diagnosis, loc. cit.): "Entire ventral surfaces of body and tail, except chest, base of tail, and an area between the hind legs, sky blue; dorsum with about seven transverse black bars on each side; bars usually blue-Sdged." Measurements of type (Smith, loc. cit.): "Snout to anterior border of ear, 10.0 mm; head width 10.0 mm; snout to vent, 49.5 mm; hind leg, 30.0 mm." (Mittleman 1942: 136). Diagnosis (chiricahuae). "Resembling Uta ornata linearis superficially, but differing in the greater size of the enlarged dorsal scales; the extension of the vertebral series of enlarged scales onto the basal portion of the tail for a greater distance; greater proportionate width of the head; and a different arrangement of colors and pattern." (Mittleman 1942: 139). Diagnosis (levis). Most closely related to Urosaurus ornatus wrighti, but distinguished as follows: enlarged vertebrals and the three or four series of enlarged dorsals bordering them on either side, extremely flat, very weakly keeled, barely imbricate, or often pavemented; cervical, dorsolateral, and lateral tubercles absent or very poorly developed; lateral fold occasionally present, but then very weakly differentiated; dorsal scales of basal portion of tail very gradually merging to the lateral basal scales, without any noticeable demarcation between dorsal and lateral scales. Coloration (alcoholic) of male: olivaceous tan above, slightly darker beneath; dorsum with six to eight greenish brown wavy cross-bands, which break on the vertebral line; abdominal patches bright blue, usually not fused medially. Measurements of ten adults (six males, four females): head length, 10.7 mm; head width 7.3 mm; snout to vent, 42.8 mm; hind leg, 28.6 mm." (Mittleman 1942: 147). Diagnosis (linearis). Superficially similar to U. o. ornatus and U. o. schmidti, but principally differing as follows: enlarged dorsals usually commencing just craniad of a line joining the anterior points of insertion ofthefore-limbs; enlargeddorsalsintwoveryregularseriesoneither side of the vertebrals; scales of the secondary series approximating those of the primary series in size; enlarged dorsals larger, more strongly carinated; cervical, dorsolateral, and lateral tubercles more strongly developed; lateral tubercles usually affecting a diagonal arrangement from axilla to groin; dorsolateral and lateral dermal folds prominent; blue abdominal patches of males more often fused medially; general appearance much more rugose and bristling; average snout to vent size larger, maximum size attained greater (56 mm. snout to vent, in largest recorded linearis; 51.5 mm. largest schmidti; 46 mm. largest ornatus). (Mittleman 1942: 138). Diagnosis (schmidti): Diagnosis. "Closely related to Uta ornata ornata, but differing from that race as follows: Enlarged dorsal scales arranged more regularly ; the inner series of enlarged dorsal scales not twice as large as those of the outer series; largest of the dorsal scales occasionally equal to, but more often smaller than, the enlarged, keeled scales of the antero-dorsal surfaces of the tibia and femur; enlarged dorsal scales commencing well caudad of a line joining the anterior points of insertion of the fore-limbs. Lateral fold usually incomplete when present. Dorsolateral series of tubercles and enlarged scales usually quite prominent. Elongated series of tubercles on neck somewhat more prominent. Coloration of both sexes similar, in most respects, to that of ornata, save that the heavy ventral mottling of the interhumeral and interfemoral areas found in ornata is regularly lacking in schmidti, or at best is represented by a light flecking of blue-gray. Measurements of holotype: Snout to posterior border of ear, 11.5 mm; head width, 9 mm; snout to vent, 44 mm; hind-limb (insertion to tip of 4th toe, exclusive of nail), 31 mm; tail, 70 mm." The measurements of twenty-five adults of both sexes are as follows: head length, 10.65 mm; head width, 8.16 mm; snout to vent, 43.20 mm; hind leg, 28.70 mm (Mittleman 1940, 1942: 135). Diagnosis (symmetricus). Closely related to Urosaurus ornatus linearis, but differing from that subspecies as follows: vertebral series of enlarged scales wider than the breadth of the widest enlarged dorsal scale; usually three prefrontals and three frontonasals, although occasionally there is present an additional anterior pair of much reduced frontonasals whose presence is due to the fission of the frontonasals proper; average size larger, maximum size attained greater; coloration very pallid above and below. (Mittleman 1942: 142). Diagnosis (wrighti). Enlarged dorsal scales commencing well caudad of a line joining the anterior points of insertion of the fore-limbs; usually two vertebral series, the scales of which are very small, weakly keeled, and bordered on either side by a primary and two or three secondary series of enlarged dorsals, which are weakly to moderately keeled, and slightly imbricate; enlarged dorsals very gradually merging with the remainder of the dorsal scales; cervical tubercles moderately developed; dorso-lateral and lateral tubercles and dermal folds absent or rudimentary; lateral scales at base of tail abruptly smaller than dorsal basal scales. Coloration (alcoholic) of male : Dorsum of head, body, and limbs and tail usually gray-blue, occasionally light tan or blue-black; limbs, body and tail barred with narrow cross-bands of dark blue or grayish; supra-labials and infralabials suffused with white, which diffuses through part of the sublabials and gular region; median gular region with a yellow, orange, or whitish light spot; abdominal blue patches fused medially for the greater part of their length; interhumeral and inter-femoral regions pale gray, mottled or not, but usually with dark gray orblue;venter of limbs and tail lighter than dorsal surfaces. Measurements of 200 adults, both sexes: Head length, 12.05 mm; head width 8.62 mm; snout to vent, 48.30 mm; hind leg, 30.70 mm. (Mittleman 1942: 146). |
| Comment | Subspecies and synonymy after SMITH & TAYLOR 1950. Uta ornata chiricahuae MITTLEMAN 1941 has been synonymized with U. o. linearis by MURRAY 1953 while linearis has been synonymized with schotti by LANGEBARTEL & SMITH 1954. U. o. wrighti is not listed in CROTHER 2000. Distribution: see map in Feldman et al. 2011. Not in Nuevo León fide Nevárez-de los Reyes et al. 2016 who considers the report from Nuevo León by Lemos-Espinal et al. 2017 as erroneous. |
| Etymology | The Latin ornata, -us, = decorated" or "ornamented," refers to the ornate coloration. |
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