5 May, 2024

It's been three weeks since the last review of the observed Uta, so I thought it a good time to consider the status of spring. During the past three weeks there were over 1300 observations of Uta, all of which were Uta stansburiana. These observations spanned the range of this species, but with a definite focus in the range of U.s.elegans in Southern California.

Males are in full breeding colors in all corners of Uta's distribution. Examples of colorful males include:

—this male by @erayner

—this male by @jmaughn

—this male by @tmessick

—this male by @sunbelt

There continue to be good observations of gravid females as the spring breeding season progresses. Many of which come from Southern California and some look about to pop which is good indicator of how close they are to laying their eggs. Examples of gravid females include:

—this female by @plascenciaivett

—this female by @jonrobson

—this female by @joseph92

—this female by @cjustus320

For observation of the week I have chose a pair of observations of Uta in the act of mating by @knight17 and @roadddog. Mating in Uta can be quick, lasting no more than a minute or so. Courtship involves circling behavior and lots of headbob displays by both male and female. The female will also use body postures like a raise as part of the courtship. Mating only occurs once females have ovulated and so will often reject courtship displays before or after that time in her cycle, which takes about 28 days early in the spring or as few as 16 days in the heat of summer. Once mating occurs, it can still take several weeks for the female to yolk and then shell the egg before laying, so mating is an important time point in the breeding season. Mating will continue from now until mid-to-late June with last clutches usually laid by mid-July most places.

As always, thank you to everyone who has observed a Side-blotched Lizards in the past few weeks. Your contributions are greatly appreciated.
—Pete Zani

.

Back to The Uta Project observation of the week

Back to The Uta Project "about" page

Back to The Uta Project main page

Posted on May 5, 2024 02:10 PM by petezani