Digital-Desert : Mojave Desert |
Intro:: Nature:: Map:: Parks:: Points of Interest:: Ghosts & Gold:: Communities:: Roads & Trails:: People & History:: Weather:: :?:: glossary |
= |
Wildlife >
Reptiles >
Lizards Zebra-tailed Lizard Callisaurus draconoides Family: Phrynosomatidae Order: Squamata Class: Reptilia DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND SEASONALITY
The zebra-tailed lizard is common and widely distributed throughout the Mojave, Sonoran
and Colorado deserts and its range extends north into the southern Great Basin. Found at
elevations up to 1520 m (5000 ft) (Macey and Papenfuss 1991). Frequents sandy and gravelly
desert flats,
washes
and alluvial plains in a variety of
desert woodland
and
desert scrub habitats.
Occasionally occurs in rocky areas, but seems to prefer flats dominated by scrub vegetation.
Commonly found along the margins of
dunes
however seems not to prefer extensively sandy
habitats (Stebbins 1954, Pianka and Parker 1972, Tanner and Krogh 1975). In areas of
creosote scrub,
this lizard appears to reach highest densities, 12-15 per ha (4.8-6.0 per ac)
(Tanner and Krogh 1975). This lizard appears early in the spring, usually by mid-March
near California City, and is active in decreasing numbers through early fall.
Fitch, H. S. 1970. Reproductive cycles in lizards and snakes. Univ. Kans. Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 52:1-247. Macey, J. R. and T. J. Papenfuss. 1991. Reptiles. Pages 291-360 in C.A. Hall, Jr., editor. Natural History of the White-Inyo Range eastern California. Univ. Calif. Press, Berkeley, California. 536 pp. Miller, A. H., and R. C. Stebbins. 1964. The lives of desert animals in Joshua Tree National Monument. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 452pp. Pianka, E. R., and W. S. Parker. 1972. Ecology of the iguanid lizard Callisaurus draconoides. Copeia 1972:493-508. Stebbins, R. C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill, New York. 536pp. Tanner. W. W., and J. E. Krogh. 1975. Ecology of the zebra-tailed lizard Callisaurus draconoides at the Nevada Test Site. Herpetologica 31:302-316. California Department of Fish and Game. California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. 2005. California Wildlife Habitat Relationships version 8.1 personal computer program. Sacramento, California. |
Zebra-tailed Lizard Additional notes: Size: 2.5-4 in (6.2-10 cm) Distinguishing characters: A long legged species with a flat tail; dark bands on underside of white tail and black belly markings at or anterior to midpoint of body; granular dorsal scales; gular fold; diagonal furrows separating upperlabials; grey dorsum with dusky markings, yellow on sides; light venter with pinkish or orange spot on throat. Juveniles: Similar to adults. Dimorphism: Male has enlarged postanal scales and more prominent belly markings. Similar species: Phrynosoma coronatum: Only other lizard with flat tail, but has spines on head and body. Uta stansburiana: Lacks the dark bars under tail, and has blue-black side blotch. Quick runner, and will raise and wave tail when confronted and ready to escape. |
Intro:: Nature:: Map:: Parks:: Points of Interest:: Ghosts & Gold:: Communities:: Roads & Trails:: People & History:: Weather:: :?:: glossary |
Country Life Realty Wrightwood, Ca. |
Mountain Hardware Wrightwood, Ca. |
Canyon Cartography |
DesertLink Links to Desert Museums |
Grizzly Cafe Family Dining |
Abraxas Engineering privacy |
These items are historical in scope and are intended for educational purposes only; they are not meant as an aid for travel planning. Copyright ©Walter Feller. 1995-2024 - All rights reserved. |