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This is a geographic range map for the five well-established continental subspecies of Common Side-blotched Lizards (Uta stansburiana) in the U.S. and Mexico. Each subspecies' distribution was estimated by me based on my reading of the literature, my decades of experience with this species, as well as using iNaturalist.org data as a guide. In some instance, I estimate where this species should occur based on elevation and habitat even in the absence of current data.

There are a couple insular species and subspecies off the coast of California as well as in the Gulf of California not depicted on this map for simplicity. In addition, some areas of subspecific distribution are uncertain, such as long the east short of the Gulf of California or in the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico as well as where U.s.elegans gives way to U.s.nevadensis and U.s.stansburiana in the Great Basin. These areas are works in progress.

I have placed the location of this observation near Grand Canyon only it allows the error bubble to encompass the entirety of this species' known range.

My only goal in sharing this is to aid iNatters in identifying why they may be seeing one subspecies or another in their observations. For now, subspecies can be identified based on geographic location, but the contact zones are areas where one or the other subspecies' genetics may come through in terms of pattern.

Relevant literature for species and subspecies descriptions

Baird, S. F., and C. Girard. 1852. Characteristics of some new reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 6:68-70.

Ballinger, R. E., and D. W. Tinkle. 1972. Systematics and evolution of the genus Uta (Sauria: Iguanidae). Miscellaneous Publications of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 145:1-83.

Knowlton, G. F., and E. W. Anthon. 1935. Uta stansburiana stansburiana (Baird and Girard). Copeia 1935:183.

McKinney, C. O. 1971. An analysis of zones of intergradation in the side-blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana (Sauria: Iguanidae). Copeia 1971:596-613.

Pack, L. E., and W. W. Tanner. 1970. A taxonomic comparison of Uta stansburiana of the Great Basin and the Upper Colorado River Basin in Utah, with a description of a new subspecies. Great Basin Naturalist 30:71-90.

Ruthven, A. G. 1913. Description of a new Uta from Nevada. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 26:27-29.

Schmidt, K. P. 1921. A new name for a subspecies of Uta stansburiana Baird and Girard. American Museum Novitates 15:1-2.

Yarrow, H. C. 1882. Descriptions of new species of reptiles and amphibians in the United States National Museum. Proceedings of the United States National Museum:438-443.

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(updated 1 May, 2024)