Lizards Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
 |
General Description: These are fast, light-colored lizards are found in open sandy areas and sand dunes. They have a blunt snout with protruding "lips," a black spot on each side of the body behind the front legs, and black bands on the underside of the tail. The body form is broad and flat. The dorsal pattern is a black background with many, tiny white circles (doughnuts). These lizards escape predators by diving into the sand and "swimming" away. |
 |
Taxonomy: Phrynosomatid Lizard Family. Technical Description: Under development. |
 Broad, flat body form. |
Diet: Carnivorous, eating mostly insects, spiders (arthropods in general), but also eating some plant material. Habitat: Sandy areas and sand dunes. Range: Eastern Mojave Desert of southeastern California and a tiny bit of western Arizona. Comments: These lizards dive into the sand and "swim" to escape predators. |
 |
Blunt snout with extended "lips" |
 |
Dorsal pattern. |
 |
Fringe scales on the hind-foot toe of a Fringe-toed Lizard. |
 |
Spots on the sides of an otherwise white belly. |
 |
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizards hide in sand dunes by burying themselves in the sand. This lizard might be hunting from cover with most of its body under the sand, but its eye above so it can see what is going on around the dune. |
 |
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard |
 |
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard with blunt snout and extended "lips." |
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
Thanks for coming to visit!
© 2012 Jim Boone; Last updated 091223
| Lizards Around Las Vegas | Wildlife Around Las Vegas | Glossary | Copyright, Conditions, Disclaimer | Jim Boone's Home Page |