Jackson At the Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson, a photo of an Eastern fence lizard—the only native spiny lizard in New Jersey—soaking up the sun on a fence was taken recently.
Known for its rough, keeled, and pointed scales, the Eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) is frequently found in the southern part of the state along forest borders, open woodlands, and shrublands. Although their patterns and colors vary, both sexes have a characteristic dark stripe running longitudinally over the back of each thigh.
The distinctive blue patches on the sides of the bellies and the base of the throats help identify males, who are usually brown with little to no back patterning. More subdued in hue, females are typically gray with lighter, less widespread blue patterns and wavy lines on their backs.
These reptiles hide underground or in rock piles at night after spending a large portion of the day basking on fence posts, trees, rocks, or stumps.
Has anyone in New Jersey spotted one of these elusive reptiles? It is recommended that wildlife observers see and observe these distinctive native animals from a distance.
