Key to Lizards of Washington

1A. All scales smooth, flat, rounded posteriorly .....Western skink, Eumeces skiltonianus
1B. Scales either granular, keeled, or pointed .....2

2A. Longitudinal skin fold on each side of body .....3
2B. No longitudinal skin folds on sides .....4

3A. Dark stripes along edges of belly scales .....Northern alligator lizard, Elgaria coerulea
3B. Dark stripes on center of belly scales .....Southern alligator lizard, Elgaria multicarinata

4A. Spiny ridges or spines at rear of head .....Short-horned lizard, Phrynosoma douglassi
4B. No ridges or spines at rear of head .....5

5A. Gular fold with granules .....Side-blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana
5B. No gular fold with granules .....6

6A. Scales on rear of thigh granular (not overlapping); throat with mottled blue patches .....Sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus graciosus
6B. Scales on rear of thigh imbricated (overlappping); throat with solid blue patches .....Western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis

Adapted by Dennis Paulson from key in Nussbaum,R. A., E. D. Brodie, Jr., and R. M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians & Reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. Univ. Press of Idaho, Moscow.