Sceloporus occidentalis becki

Sceloporus occidentalis becki
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Sceloporus
Species: S. occidentalis
Subspecies: S. o. becki
Trinomial name
Sceloporus occidentalis becki
Van Denburgh, 1905

Sceloporus occidentalis becki, commonly known as the island fence lizard, is a subspecies of the western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis. The subspecific epithet, becki, is in honor of Rollo Howard Beck, an American ornithologist who collected the first specimens.[1]

Geographic range

The island fence lizard, S. o. becki is endemic[2] to the Channel Islands of California.[3]

Taxonomy

Some authors have raised the island fence lizard to the rank of a species, i.e., Sceloporus becki. However, recent work in molecular systematics has suggested four clades and 11 genetically separable populations, and the subspecies will probably have to be redefined.[4]

See also

Line notes

  1. Beltz, Ellin. 2006. Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained. http://ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html
  2. C.M. Hogan, 2008
  3. W. Flaxington, 2005
  4. "Sceloporus occidentalis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.

References


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