Copyright of Sharon’s Florida
Copyright © 1998 - 2018 Sharon LaPlante
Southern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus
undulatus
undulatus,
also known
as the
southern
fence lizard
or fence
swift, is a
common
sight in
many
Florida
landscapes.
It occurs in pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, and longleaf
pine-turkey oak habitats. They can be found in the home
landscape climbing on fences and trees, basking in the sun on
rocks and logs, and searching for food on wooden decks and
garden borders.
The southern fence lizard is approximately 7 inches in length
at maturity. It has a rough scaled body that is gray with wavy
patterns of black and light gray along its back. Undulatus
refers to
the
undulating
or wavy
pattern
along the
back.
Mature
males may
not have
the
prominent
patterns
along their
backs, but
they do
have
brilliant
patches of metallic blue along the undersides of their bellies
and throats. Males can be seen doing pushups to show off
their blue undersides during mating and territorial displays.
Color variations give rise to individuals that may be gray to
brown with heavy markings to little or no markings. Their
coloration affords them excellent protection from predators
especially when they are foraging on the bark of trees. The
dark wavy patterns closely mimic the fissures found in the bark
of oaks providing them excellent camouflage.
Southern fence lizards are diurnal and can be found hunting
prey throughout the day. Fence lizards do not run after their
prey, but rather sit and wait for it to stroll by before they
pounce. They can often be found clinging to the trunks of
trees facing downward waiting for their prey to venture along
on the ground in front of them. Their diet consists of ants,
crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, centipedes, snails, beetles
and other
insects. Ant hills are also a favorite hunting ground.
If you catch
this lizard by
the tail it can
easily break
off and will
continue to
wiggle in
your hand
while the
tail-less
animal gets
away. This
is a
sacrificial
defense
mechanism
that allows
the lizard to
elude capture. The tail will regenerate in time.
Breeding occurs in early spring. Six to ten eggs are laid in a
shallow nest at the base of a clump of vegetation or a rotting
log. Sawdust piles are favorite nesting sites. Eggs begin to
hatch in early June and throughout the summer months into
early fall.
The Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi) is very similar in
appearance to the southern fence lizard. However, it is
distinguished from the fence lizard by its habitat and
coloration. The scrub lizard is found only in scrub habitat.
Young scrub lizards have two rows of thin zigzag bands on
their back, and brown stripes running lateral along their
bodies. Adult females retain the dorsal zigzag pattern,
however, the dorsal pattern fades in the adult male and then
only the lateral stripe is seen. In areas where both species
occur they may hybridize, which complicates proper
identification.