Western Fence Lizard - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

Taxonomy for the western fence lizard has been under much debate. S. occidentalis belongs in the order Squamata (snakes and lizards) and the suborder Iguania. The family in which it belongs is still under scrutiny. The family Phrynosomatidae, along with seven other families, used to be included in the single family Iguanidae, until Frost and Etheridge's (1989) analysis of iguanian systematics suggested the family be divided. Some literature, however, still places the phrynosomatids in Iguanidae.

Six subspecies are recognized, as follows:

• Island fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis becki
• San Joaquin fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis biseriatus
• Coast Range fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii
• Great Basin fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis longipes
• Northwestern fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis occidentalis
• Sierra fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis taylori

Some authors have raised the island fence lizard to specific rank, Sceloporus becki. However, recent work in molecular systematics has suggested there are four clades and 11 genetically separable populations, and the subspecies will probably have to be redefined.