[1] They are native to North America, specifically the arid and semiarid regions of the western United States and Mexico, spending most of their time on trees, shrubs, or boulders.

They can be distinguished from members of the genus Uta by the presence of enlarged (sometimes only slightly) dorsal scales.

[3] Throat color in males is also appears to be associated with certain mating behaviors including aggression, boldness, submission, and cautiousness.

[4] Urosaurus have been used as a model system in lizard life-history studies, and populations produce two or more clutches of eggs per year.

[5][6] Field studies have also shown a cost of reproduction in a natural New Mexico population of the species Urosaurus ornatus.