Desert Night Lizard

desertnightlizardbg: Desert Night LizardCOMMON NAME: Desert Night Lizard

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Xantusia vigilis vigilis

DESCRIPTION:

This is one of the few reptiles that is viviparous; embryos are nourished by a
primitive placenta while in the mothers oviduct, then born alive. This night lizard is 1 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches long with a tail
of the same length. It is a slim, velvet-skinned lizard; usually olive, gray, or dark brown above, speckled with black. It has a beige stripe extending from the eye to the shoulder. The eyes have vertical, elliptical pupils with no moveable eyelids. A clear scale (the brille) covers their eyes; as in snakes.

LIFE HISTORY:

Night lizards are live bearing, producing 1 to 3 young from August to December. Night lizards are mostly diurnal
diurnalactive during daylight hours.and find their prey by sight and tongue flicking. The tail is very easily autotomized (breaks off).

ECOLOGY:

Niche: Night lizards eat termites, small insects, spiders and other arthropods.

Habitat: This is a secretive lizard of arid and semiarid lands. During the day, it may be found under fallen debris of many desert plants, in rock crevices, under bark and even under cow chips. They may be found from sea level to 9,300 feet.

ADOPT THIS ANIMAL


Print This Page   Email This Page