Collared Lizard

Crotaphytus collaris, (Tay)

Colouration: While the colours are variable, the double black collar is a strong distinguishing feature.
Dimensions: Following are the measurements of an adult male:
Distribution: Generally distributed and abundant throughout the Western states from Arkansas and Missouri to eastern California. Southern Idaho seems to be the most northern portion of the range; southward, the species extends into Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico. It is most abundant in dry, rocky districts; it teems on the sub-arid plains of western Texas.
Habits: Pugnacious, greedy and very active, this handsome lizard is in many ways interesting. It is cannibalistic and will greedily devour fair-sized specimens of the spiny, horned lizards (Phrynosoma), though the diet is often varied with blossoms and tender leaves. When alarmed it dashes away on its hind legs, in kangaroo fashion.

Body short and stout; head very large and distinct from the neck. Hind limbs long and powerful; much longer than the front pair and of a development to assist the animal in jumping.

The body colour may be yellowish, pale gray or bright green. Scattered over the back and the sides are numerous white or yellow dots; at the edge of the abdomen, these are often of a brick red. Behind the head are two, wide, jet-black bands, separated by a white or yellowish space--thus forming a double collar. The abdomen is greenish; the throat deep orange.

With most female examples, the black collar is less pronounced than on the male; on some it is merely represented by narrow strips of black. Most of the females are gray, or clay colour. During the breeding season they are spotted with bright, brick red; at such times the males assume vivid tints of green or yellow.

Total Length. . . . . 12 inches.

Length of Tail. . . . . 8 1/4 inches.

Width of Body. . . . . 1 1/2 inches.

Width of Head. . . . . 1 1/4 inches.

Length of Front Limb. . . . . 1 3/4 inches.

Length of Hind Limb. . . . . 3 1/2 inches.

As a captive, the Collared Lizard is bright and hardy. It delights in a bed of dry sand, heated by an all-day flood of sunshine. Among examples of their kind, these lizards are peaceful enough, but no smaller lizards are safe in a cage with them. They will greedily consume swifts, horned "toads" and even young snakes. Their method of eating at once suggests that of the frogs, as the mouth is capacious, and the food is tucked into it with the front feet, in frog-like fashion. It is surprising to note the size of a lizard that one of these reptiles will swallow; it will engulf a swift that is longer than its head and body. One of the writer's specimens was found choked to death after it had tried to swallow a spiny swift (Sceloporus) that was nearly as big around as itself. The voracious animal had stuffed the head and shoulders of the prey into its mouth and down the throat, but there it became immovable, too large to go farther and too spiny to be ejected.

Aside from the cannibalistic habits, the Collared Lizard is fond of small flowers. It will devour the blossoms of red clover and the dandelion. Insects form a portion of the diet and captive lizards will eat grasshoppers, crickets and mealworms.

If an avenue of escape be open, these lizards will invariably dart away when startled. The method of locomotion is curious. For several feet the reptile skims over the ground in normal fashion, but as it attains full speed the tail is sharply raised and the body rears upward in kangaroo fashion; thence the creature rushes off on its powerful hind limbs. In this position it may run for a hundred feet or more. If it encounters a hole or small gully, the body is pressed against the ground, the hind limbs fold like those of a frog and a long jump follows. When cornered, the lizard turns quickly, opens the mouth widely and discloses a cavernous, black throat. The jaws are strong enough to produce a fair blood blister upon one's finger.

The writer's specimens dug hollows in the sand, under flat, shelving stones. They retreated to these hiding places shortly before sunset and always remained in them on cloudy days. One of the largest females--11 inches long--deposited 21 eggs, during the early part of August. The eggs were 7/16 of an inch in diameter and 5/8 of an inch long; their covering was as thin and soft as paper.