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Leopard Lizard
- Colouration
- Yellowish brown, with large, rounded, black or brown blotches on the body and limbs. Between these blotches are numerous brick-red dots; the blotches may be outlined with borders of dots. There are usually pale, narrow lines crossing the back; the tail is coarsely reticulated with light and dark hues. Throat barred with black.
- Dimensions
- Total Length. . . . . 12 inches.
- Distribution
- The Great Basin. Occurs from eastern Oregon to northern Mexico. Most abundant in the desert regions of eastern California, Nevada and Arizona. Does not range as far east as the Collared Lizard; the distribution in the East does not appear to extend beyond New Mexico and extreme southwestern Texas.
- Distribution
- Deserts of the Southwest.
- Distribution
- Deserts of the Southwest.
- Distribution
- Central and Western States.
Head much narrower than that of the preceding lizards. Body more elongated; tail very long and slender.
Length of Tail. . . . . 8 1/2 inches.
Width of Body. . . . . 3/4 inches.
Width of Head. . . . . 1/1 1/6 inches.
Length of Head. . . . . 1/1 1/6 inches.
CHAPTER XV: THE SPOTTED LIZARDS; ZEBRA-TAILED LIZARDS
Small and Strictly Terrestrial Species of the Genera CALLISAURUS, UMA and HOLBROOKIA
THIS chapter embraces a number of small, ground lizards that live in dry and open places--the plains, sub-arid regions and the deserts. To match the pale sterile soil, their colours are light; the pattern of none is rich in hues, though some have the under side of the tail alternately barred with black and white and such species when running, carry the tail curled over the back, hence the popular title--the Zebra-tailed Lizards.
In the colouration, Callisaurus is precisely like Holbrookia--yellowish or grayish above, with two rows of darker, angular blotches on the back, but these genera are separated by Uma, according to the structure.
Outline of the Genera
General Characters.--Body rather stout; tail of moderate length, scalation of the body and tail, above, fine and granular; abdomen covered with larger, rounded scales. Top of the head with numerous rounded scales--not plates. Gray, yellowish or green, with two rows of angular blotches. Usually one or two ink-black spots on each side of the abdomen. Tail uniform white beneath, or barred with black.
I. Ear Drum Exposed.
Toes long, without spiny fringes. Genus Callisaurus.
Toes long, with spiny fringes. Genus Uma.
II. Ear Drum Concealed Under The Skin.
Toes long, without spiny fringes.
Genus Holbrookia.
The Genus Callisaurus: A single species is recognised. It is confined to the arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.