Lizards Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
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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. The common name comes from the "fringe" for elongate scales on the back of the toes that act as a snowshoe and helps them run very fast on soft sand. Taxonomy: Phrynosomatid Lizard Family. Technical Description: Under development. |
 Fringe for elongate scales on the toes |
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. |
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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 with an eye above so it can see what is out and about on the dune. |
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 Blunt snout with extended "lips" |
 Dorsal pattern matches sand grains |
 Fringe scales on the hind-foot toe of a Fringe-toed Lizard |
 Spots on the sides of an otherwise white belly |
 Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard with blunt snout and extended "lips" |
 Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard |
 Broad, flat body form |
 Hiding in sand with one eye exposed to watch for prey or danger |
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 230805
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