Zebra-tailed lizard
| Callisaurus | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| a zebra-tailed lizard | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Infraorder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Callisaurus |
| Species: | C. draconoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Callisaurus draconoides Blainville, 1835 |
|
Zebra-tailed lizards (Callisaurus) are a genus of phrynosomatid lizards endemic to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Contents |
[edit] Habitat
They live in open desert with fairly hard-packed soil, scattered vegetation and scattered rocks, typically desert flats, washes and plains.
[edit] Description
They range in size from 2.5 to 4 inches (63 to 100 mm) in snout to vent length (SVL). These lizards are grey to sandy brown, usually with series of paired dark gray spots down the back, becoming black bands on the tail. The underside of tail is white with black bands. Males have a pair of black blotches on the side, extending to blue patches on the belly. Females have no blue patches, and the black bars are either faint or completely absent.
[edit] Behavior
They are diurnal and alert. They rise early and are active in all but the hottest weather. During the hottest times of day, lizards may stand alternately on two legs, switching to the opposite two as needed in a kind of dance. When threatened they will run swiftly with their toes curled up and tails raised over their backs exposing the stripes. They can even run on their hind legs for short distances. In areas of creosote scrub this lizard seems to reach highest densities, around 4.8 to 6.0 individuals per acre (600 to 800 m² per lizard). This lizard burrows into fine sand for retreat at night and usually seeks day shelter in the shade of bushes.
[edit] Reproduction
In summer, 2 to 8 eggs are typically laid, hatching anywhere from July to November. However, more than 1 clutch can be laid during a season. Eggs are laid, presumably, in friable, sandy soil. Being a prey species for many animals, including birds, other lizards, and mammals, they have a fairly high reproductive potential.
[edit] Diet
It feeds on a variety of prey from insects, such as moths, ants and bees, as well as spiders and other smaller lizards. Its diet occasionally includes vegetation, such as spring buds and flowers.
[edit] Geographic range
The zebra-tailed lizard is common and widely distributed throughout the southwestern United States, ranging from the Mojave and Colorado deserts north into the southern Great Basin.
[edit] Taxonomy
The genus Callisaurus is monotypic, that is it contains only one species, Callisaurus draconoides. There are numerous subspecies, which are listed below.
- Bogert's zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides bogerti Martin del Campo, 1943
- short-footed zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides brevipes Bogert & Dorson, 1942
- Carmen Island zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides carmenensis Dickerson, 1919
- Viscaino zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides crinitus Cope, 1896
- common zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides draconoides Blainville, 1835
- Sonoran zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides inusitanus Dickerson, 1919
- Nevada zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides myurus Richardson, 1915
- Mojave zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides rhodostictus Cope, 1896
- Angel Island zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides splendidus Dickerson, 1919
- eastern zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides ventralis (Hallowell, 1852)[1]
[edit] Gallery
[edit] References
- ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- "Callisaurus draconoides". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=173906. Retrieved 6 February 2006.
- National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Knopf, Chanticleer Press Ed edition, (1979). ISBN 0-394-50824-6
- Halliday, Tim and O'Shea, Mark; Smithsonian Handbooks: Reptiles and Amphibians. Dorling Kindersley Publishing (2002). ISBN 0-7894-9393-4
