page_title: Western fence lizard
section_title: Behavior
hierarchical_section_title: Western fence lizard / Behavior
caption_attribution_description: A Western fence lizard takes a flying leap above the photographer.
context_page_description: The western fence lizard is a common lizard of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Northern Mexico, and the surrounding area. As the ventral abdomen of an adult is characteristically blue, it is also known as the blue-belly.
  It is a member of the genus Sceloporus.
context_section_description: These lizards are diurnal, and are commonly seen sunning on paths, rocks, and fence posts, and other high places, which makes them an easy target for predation by birds and even some mammals, such as shrews. Also they can be prey for Alligator lizards during cold mornings.They protect themselves by employing their fast reflexes, which are common in many other lizards including biting and possibly defecating on the predator. They can change color from light grey or tan to nearly jet black, but they probably use this ability for the purpose of thermoregulation while basking and not as a means to camouflage themselves.
  The western fence lizard eats spiders and insects such as beetles, mosquitoes, and various types of grasshoppers.
  Like most other lizards, S. occidentalis goes through a period of hibernation during the winter. The length of time and when they emerge varies depending on climate. During the mating season, adult males will defend a home range.
caption: The blue ventral side of the lizard, giving it the name "bright blue belly"
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