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Mexican Beaded Lizard — "escorpion"
Colouration.—The general pattern and colours are quite different from the Gila Monster. The upper and lower surfaces are black or dark brown, with scattered spots and blotches of rich yellow. With the majority of specimens, the black predominates, and with many specimens the yellow is confined to single, scattered tubercles. The head is usually uniform black. (An important character of differentiation from the Gila Monster with which the head generally well blotched with the lighter hue.)
Dimensions.—The Mexican Beaded Lizard attains a larger size than the species inhabiting the United States. Following are the measurements of an adult specimen, from Guerrero, Mexico:
Distribution.—Between the habitat of this species and that of the Gila Monster, is a wide, dividing area. This reptile inhabits central and western Mexico, from latitude 25, southward to northern Central America.
Habits.—In its mode of life and disposition, the Mexican Beaded Lizard appears in no way to differ from the Gila Monster.
Distribution.—Southeastern California.
Distribution.—One specimen known; from Lower California.
Distribution.—San Diego County, California.
Distribution.—One specimen known; from southern California.
Distribution.—Santa Barbara Island, coast of California.
Colouration.—"The ground colour on different specimens varies from smoke gray, through many shades of yellow and brown, to clove brown. Scattered granules are brown or black. At times these dark granules are so numerous as to become confluent with a tendency to form longitudinal lines. In other individuals they are scarcely visible. . . . A yellowish line usually runs back on the neck from the outer edges of each occipital plate. Two similar lines are sometimes present on the nape. The lower parts are creamy white, sometimes clouded with brown toward the sides. The young average much darker than the adults." (Van Denburgh.)
Dimensions.—Total Length . . . . . 3 1/2 inches.
Distribution.—Concerning the distribution, Mr. Van Denburgh has explained fully, thus: "The first representatives of Xantusia vigilis were found at Fort Tejon, California, by Mr. John Xantus, who furnished the three specimens upon which Prof. Baird based his original description, published in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1858. Nothing more concerning it appeared until May, 1893, when Dr. Stejneger recorded two specimens, secured by the Death Valley Expedition in 1891. Nothing has been known about its habits and this very interesting species has been considered one of the rarest of our reptiles.
Colouration.—Light, pinkish gray, with two rows of large, purplish brown sports, which are separated by narrow lines of ground-colour. The tail is similarly marked with smaller spots--these farther apart.
Dimensions.—Total length, 4 7/8 inches; tail, 2 7/8 inches.
Distribution.—One specimen known; from Tejon Pass, southern California.
Colouration.—Above dark, brownish clay colour, dotted with black on single scales or granules. A pale brownish band, the width of two scales or granules, extends backward on each side of the neck, from the head shields; it becomes obscure on the back, but may be again discerned over the thighs. The abdomen is yellowish white.
Dimensions.—Total length about 3 inches; tail, 1 1/2 inches.
Distribution.—One specimen known and taken at San Francisquito, Sierra Laguna, Lower California.
Colouration.—Blackish brown above, irregularly marbled with cream-coloured lines; on the tail these show a tendency to form cross-bands. White beneath.
Dimensions.—Total Length . . . . . 5 3/4 inches.
Distribution.—The species has been found only at Witch Creek, San Diego County, California--in the chaparral belt.
Habits.—Concerning the habits, Mr. Van Denburgh remarks:
Colouration.—Gray or brown with irregularly-scattered brown or black spots. On some specimens the spots fuse into lines.
Dimensions.—Total Length . . . . . 7 inches.
Distribution.—San Clemente, San Nicholas and Santa Catalina Islands, off coast of California.
Colouration.—Light brown or olive above; sides black. Two yellow stripes on each side and two pale stripes on the back. Abdomen red. Appears to retain the striped pattern through life.
Distribution.—The peninsula of Lower California, and as far north as San Diego, California. An abundant lizard.
Colouration.—Dark brown above, with a central, bluish-white stripe, forking on the neck; two similar stripes on each side. Sides much paler than the back. Abdomen bluish.
Distribution.—Recorded from San Jose Island, Gulf of California.
Colouration.—Olive brown above, with three brown bands on each side, about as wide as the intervals between them; these are often so broken by spots of the ground-colour as to resemble rows of light spots or confluent variations of the ground-colour. (Cope).
Distribution.—The Cape Region, Lower California.
Colouration.—Young, dark olive, with four to seven pale yellow stripes on the back and sides, which are narrower than the dark spaces between them. As the lizard grows larger, a row of yellow dots appears on each dark area between the stripes; these spots finally fuse across the dark area and into the lines, entirely breaking up the striped pattern and bringing about an effect of wavy and narrow, yellow cross-bands, alternating with dark ones; as the alternate light and dark patches are fine and irregular, the effect is a marbled or tessellated pattern--hence the technical name.