Southwestern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus cowlesi
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyPhrynosomatidae (Frinosomàtids)
- GenusSceloporus (Spiny Lizards)
- SpeciesSceloporus cowlesi (Southwestern Fence Lizard)
The southwestern fence lizard (Sceloporus cowlesi), also known as Cowles' prairie lizard, the White Sands prairie lizard or the White Sands swift, is species of spiny lizard in the family Iguanidae. The species is native to the Chihuahuan Desert of the south-western United States and north-central Mexico. Originally described in 1956 as Sceloporus undulatus cowlesi, a subspecies of the eastern fence lizard, subsequent DNA studies elevated the southwestern fence lizard to species status. The following cladogram is based on Leaché and Reeder, 2002, and shows the relationship of Sceloporus cowlesi to other species in the "Sceloporus undulatus group". Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Southwestern Fence Lizard sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 75 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Big Bend National Park
Canyon Lizard
Sceloporus merriami
Crevice Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus poinsettii
Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus bimaculosus
Texas Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus olivaceus
Greater Earless Lizard
Cophosaurus texanus
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
Roundtail Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma modestum
Ornate Tree Lizard
Urosaurus ornatus
Texas Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma cornutum
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Southwestern Fence Lizard in Big Bend National Park?
About 22% of wildlife watchers report a Southwestern Fence Lizard sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 75 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Southwestern Fence Lizard in Big Bend National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Southwestern Fence Lizard in Big Bend National Park in our monthly data.