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Texas Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus olivaceus

Reptile · family Phrynosomatidae · order Squamata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
1 state[3]
Typical length
11 in[4]

The Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) is a reptile in the family Phrynosomatidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide and in the United States, and it is native to Texas[2][6][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives this lizard a global rank of G5 and a US national rank of N5, and both mean Secure[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe estimates the total adult population at 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals

Where Texas Spiny Lizard lives

NatureServe lists the Texas Spiny Lizard as native in one state, Texas[3]. People also report it on GBIF in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Florida and California[9]. Those records show where people report the lizard, not where NatureServe says it is native[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5TXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (1 states)
StateRankMeaning
TexasS5Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records hardwood woodland, shrubland or chaparral, and suburban or orchard areas as its habitat[11]. It lives mostly in trees such as mesquite and oak[12]. It is also found on buildings, fences and bridges, and it is often linked with scrub plants[12]. Females lay their eggs in the soil[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size and diet

This lizard eats insects and sometimes small lizards, so NatureServe calls it an invertivore, an animal that eats animals without a backbone[13][14]. Its typical length is 28 cm (11 in)[4]. In spring and summer, a female may lay several sets of eggs[15]. Compared with young females, older ones produce more clutches and larger ones[15]. NatureServe notes that the lizards become sexually mature in one year[15].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 28 cm (11 in)
Food habits[14] Invertivore
Migration[16] non-migrant

When to look for it

The Texas Spiny Lizard is diurnal, which means it is active during the day[17]. NatureServe lists it as a non-migrant, though populations can differ[16]. GBIF records are highest in April, May and September[18]. Records show when people look and report, not how many lizards there are[18].

January: 322 recordsJanFebruary: 736 recordsFebMarch: 3,055 recordsMarApril: 5,275 recordsAprMay: 4,264 recordsMayJune: 3,253 recordsJunJuly: 2,972 recordsJulAugust: 3,040 recordsAugSeptember: 3,704 recordsSepOctober: 2,438 recordsOctNovember: 1,112 recordsNovDecember: 478 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January322
February736
March3,055
April5,275
May4,264
June3,253
July2,972
August3,040
September3,704
October2,438
November1,112
December478

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Texas Spiny Lizard as present in 3 park units[19]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Florida, California[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Texas Spiny Lizard endangered?
No. It is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 and N5, which mean Secure[2][6].
Where does the Texas Spiny Lizard live?
NatureServe lists it as native in Texas[3]. It lives in woodland, shrubland and suburban areas, and often on trees, fences and buildings[11][12].
What does the Texas Spiny Lizard eat?
It eats insects and sometimes small lizards[13]. NatureServe calls it an invertivore[14].
How big is the Texas Spiny Lizard?
NatureServe records a typical length of 28 cm (11 in)[4].
When can you see a Texas Spiny Lizard?
It is active during the day[17]. GBIF records are highest in April, May and September[18].

Facts and sources

  1. Texas Spiny Lizard is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Texas Spiny Lizard: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Texas Spiny Lizard as native in 1 US state or territory: Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 28 cm (11 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) is a reptile in the family Phrynosomatidae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Texas Spiny Lizard: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Florida, California. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Texas Spiny Lizard (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Texas Spiny Lizard: Woodland - hardwood, Shrubland/chaparral, Suburban/orchard. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Texas Spiny Lizard. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Texas Spiny Lizard. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Texas Spiny Lizard. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for Texas Spiny Lizard: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  18. GBIF observation records of Texas Spiny Lizard in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  19. NPSpecies park lists recording Texas Spiny Lizard as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.