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Zebra-tailed Lizard
Colouration.—Grayish, dotted with white; two rows of angular, or V-shaped blotches on the back, fusing into angular bands on the tail.
Dimensions.—Total Length . . . . . 5 5/8 inches.
Distribution.—Western Texas to California; Lower California; northern Mexico. Principally abundant in the desert regions of eastern California, Arizona, southern Nevada and southeastern Utah; in these areas it is the most common of the various species of lizards.
Habits.—Like most of the terrestrial lizards this is a wonderfully active creature, running with such speed that the human eye can barely follow it. It usually curls the tail over the back when running, showing the vividly marked under-surface. Sometimes it runs for a short distance on the hind feet, a habit already explained in connection with the species of Crotaphytus. The food seems to consist partly of insects and of small blossoms and tender leaves.
Distribution.—Has been found near Tucson, Arizona.
Distribution.—Deserts of southern California, southwestern Arizona and Lower California.
Distribution.—Mohave Desert, Arizona.
Distribution.—Colorado Desert.
Habits.—Regarding the habits of the Occellated Lizard--Uma notata, is the following extract from an article by S. E. Meek (Vol. VII, No. 1, Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, III. Zoological Series--Publication 104.) and representing the field notes of Edmund Heller.
Dimensions.—The Zebra-tailed Lizard is perhaps the largest species. It attains a length of eight to ten inches. Following are the measurements of an average-sized adult of the Common Spotted Lizard (H. maculata):
Distribution.—Of the different species the Common Spotted Lizard has the most extended distribution. It occurs from Kansas to California, and southward into northern Mexico. The Zebra-tailed Lizard is common in Texas whence it extends westward to California; it occurs also in northern Mexico. The Mexican Spotted Lizard inhabits northern Mexico and the southern border of Texas. The Slender Spotted Lizard is a Mexican species and does not occur in the United States. Holbrookia lacerata is found in Texas. It seems to be most nearly allied to H. maculata.
Habits.—Although these small reptiles are very active and capable of climbing rocks with great agility, they pass most of their time upon the ground. They are generally found in dry, rocky situations, and dart away with bewildering speed when disturbed. The H. texana evinces the peculiar habit of running with the tail curled sharply upward, and, as this appendage is vividly marked with alternate black and white bars on the under side, imparts a unique appearance, hence the popular name--"Zebra-tailed" Lizard.
Distribution.—Cape Region of Lower California.
Distribution.—Rare. Taken in Lower California.
Distribution.—Lower California and extreme southern California.
Distribution.—The most abundant species of the genus. It occurs from western Texas to California, inclusive, and northward to Nevada. Very common in the deserts of Arizona and eastern California.
Distribution.—San Pedro Martir Island, Gulf of California.
Distribution.—Arid regions of New Mexico, Arizona and California.
Distribution.—New Mexico. Rare,
Distribution.—Common in the desert regions of Arizona and eastern California.
Distribution.—Lower California. Abundant.
Distribution.—Lower California. Rare.
Distribution.—Arid regions of southern Nevada, Arizona and eastern California, in the vicinity of the Colorado River.
Habits.—The Small-scaled Swifts are terrestrial lizards, living among rocks in the deserts and sub-arid regions of the Southwest. They are wonderfully agile and fairly skim over the ground when pursued, but do not appear to adopt the habit of running on the hind limbs, as do some of the lizards already described--Crotaphytus, Callisaurus and Holbrookia. Although the feet are not provided with adhesive disks or pads, these creatures find a footing upon almost perpendicular cliffs, over which they may be commonly seen darting about, in search of insect food or scurrying away from the human intruder. Captive specimens are hardy if kept perfectly dry and very warm. Their cages should be so situated as to have sunlight for the greater part of the day. If deprived of the sun they seldom show a desire to feed. Mealworms and grasshoppers form a good diet. To provide the specimens with water, it is best to take a small branch, dip this in a pail and place it in the cage. They will be attracted to and drink the hanging drops, while a small pan of water in the cage might pass unnoticed for days.
Distribution.—About thirty-five species of Sceloporus are recognised and of these about one-half the number inhabit Mexico and Central America, which countries might be termed the headquarters of the Spiny Swifts; they have extended their range into the southwestern portions of the United States, while a few species have reached such northern limits as Oregon and others have extended southward into the peninsula of Lower California. The range eastward has not been pronounced, for with the exception of two species the Swifts do not extend beyond Texas. Of these, one (S. spinosus) extends eastward from Mexico and Texas along the southern borders of the Gulf States to about Pensacola, Florida. The other (S. undulatus) abounds throughout the Eastern States, from southern New Jersey to Florida, where it may be seen in the country, scampering over every fence and stone wall or upon the trunks of fallen trees--particularly in the pinelands. It is the most widely distributed of any of the Spiny Swifts, being found from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts.