Urosaurus

Urosaurus is a genus of lizards, commonly known as tree lizards or brush lizards, belonging to the New World family Phrynosomatidae.<ref name=ITIS>{{#if:173951 | {{#invoke:template wrapper|wrap|_template=cite web|_exclude=id,ID,taxon

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 | title = Urosaurus Hallowell, 1854
 | publisher = Integrated Taxonomic Information System
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| Template:Citation error }}</ref> They are native to North America, specifically the arid and semiarid regions of the western United States and Mexico, spending most of their time on trees, shrubs, or boulders.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Description

Species in the genus Urosaurus can be distinguished from members of the genus Sceloporus by the presence of a gular (under neck) fold and granular lateral scales. They can be distinguished from members of the genus Uta by the presence of enlarged (sometimes only slightly) dorsal scales.Template:Citation needed Some species of Urosaurus (Urosaurus ornatus) appear to be polymorphic for throat color, but it does vary in different populations. In male lizards, these colors can range anywhere from orange, yellow, green, or turquoise, and in females the color can be either orange or yellow.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Throat color in males is also appears to be associated with certain mating behaviors including aggression, boldness, submission, and cautiousness.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Reproduction

Urosaurus have been used as a model system in lizard life-history studies, and populations produce two or more clutches of eggs per year.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Field studies have also shown a cost of reproduction in a natural New Mexico population of the species Urosaurus ornatus.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Species

In the genus Urosaurus there are eight species which are recognized as being valid.<ref name=RDB>Template:NRDB genus</ref>

Image	Scientific Name	Distribution
File:Urosaurus auriculatus 5637644 (cropped).jpg	Urosaurus auriculatus Template:Small	Socorro Island in Baja California
	Urosaurus bicarinatus Template:Small	Mexico.
	Urosaurus clarionensis Template:Small	Baja California
	Urosaurus gadovi Template:Small	Mexico
File:LIZARD, LONG-TAILED BRUSH (urosaurus graciosus) (5-5-08) ticaboo cyn, garfield co, ut -01 (14812845892).jpg	Urosaurus graciosus Template:Small	southwestern United States and adjacent northern Mexico.
	Urosaurus lahtelai Template:Small	Mexico.
File:Urosaurus nigricaudus.jpg	Urosaurus nigricauda Template:Small	southern California, Baja California,
File:ORNATE TREE LIZARD Urosaurus ornatus - Flickr - gailhampshire (1).jpg	Urosaurus ornatus Template:Small	southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other that Urosaurus.

Further reading

• Hallowell E (1854). "Descriptions of new Reptiles from California". Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 91–97. (Urosaurus, new genus, p. 92).