Mojave National Preserve
Lizards

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Make an effort to watch lizards in the desert. They are often abundant, so you will put your knowledge to good use. Some of the species discussed below are found in narrow ecological niches, while others are plentiful over wide ranges, so knowing where to look is very important. Igaunids: Family Iguanidae Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis) This is one of the most common lizards, and also one of the biggest. Their preferred habitat is creosote bush scrubland, where they feed on the green plants of the area. They can withstand high temperatures, and are out and about after other lizards have retreated into their burrows. They are very quick critters. You will often see one run across the road, just ahead of your oncoming car. Watch it run. At high speeds they run on their powerful back legs, folding the front legs into their body. It is an amazing site. Chuckwalla (Sauromalus obesus obesus) Vegetarians like the Desert Iguana, Chuckwallas are usually found around rocks. They have an interesting ability to swallow air and fills its body like a balloon. When threatened it enters a crack in the rocks and fills up with air, making it more difficult to pull from its spot. This was a favorite food of local Indians. Zebra-Tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) These very fast lizards are easily identified by - you guessed it - their black stripped "zebra tail." When agitated the lizards wave their very prominent tail, and it is thought that this provides protection. When predators go after a Zebra-Tail they often see the tail, so this is the point of attack. If that is the body part they grab it simply falls off, and the lizard escapes having lost a tail but not its life. You can often get surprisingly close to a Zebra-Tailed Lizard. They will stand high on their legs as you approach, sometimes doing a couple of "push-ups" with their front legs. But when you finally are close enough to scare them off, they dash away with a blur. Look for them in sandy washes. Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard (Crotaphtus wislizenii) These powerful predators eat insects, lizards, small snakes, and even some smaller mammals like mice. The lizard's distinctive markings change vividly during the year. During mating season the males red "spots" turn a salmon color, helping it attract a mate. The male can pursue these ends with single minded devotion. Once, I came upon two Leopard Lizards in loving embrace - actually, the male had pinned the female down by biting on its neck. A dozen or more human bystanders quickly surrounded the couple to watch the show. The lizards scarcely noticed the intrusion, and hopefully went on to successfully reproduce. Side-Blotched Lizard (Uta stansbutiana stejnegeri) This is one of the smallest, and one of the most abundant of our lizards. They live short lives, usually less than two years, but keep their numbers up by producing many young. In spring they are one of the first lizards to emerge from hibernation and are one of the last to settle in for the winter. Desert residents often find these around their homes. Mojave Fringe-Toed Lizard (Uma scoparia) This is a lizard of sand dunes, and within the Preserve the best place to view them is Kelso Dunes. You must be patient and observant to get a real good look, as these lizards run off with the first sign of hazard. The fringe toes act like snowshoes allowing them to run across the sand and escape enemies. Flaps over the ears, overlapping eyelids, and valves in the nostrils all protect the lizards from sand. Southern Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) The colored camouflage on this lizard is amazing. You can be standing a few feet from them, but typically you will not see them until they rush off into a bush. The "horns" on the back of its head are a conspicuous feature, and protect the lizard from potential predators. They feed on small insects, particularly ants. In fact, these lizards often die in captivity unless they are feed ants. Whiptails: Family Teiidae Great Basin Whiptail (Cnemidophorus tigris tigris) Whiptails belong to a large family of New World lizards, distributed throughout the West Indies and South America. Only fourteen species of the genus Cnemidophorus reach into the United States, so we are very much at the edge of their range. They eat insect, spiders and other small animals. Some whiptails are very unusual in that their population consist entirely of females. The females lay viable but unfertilized eggs, that develop into genetically identical females.