| greater earless lizard | |
|---|---|
| Cophosaurus texanus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Cophosaurus |
| Species: | C. texanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Cophosaurus texanus Troschel, 1852 |
|
The greater earless lizard (Cophosaurus texanus) is a species of earless lizard endemic to the southwestern United States. It is called "greater" because it grows larger than the earless lizards of the genus Holbrookia, to which it is closely related. While C. texanus is the only species within its genus, it does have two subspecies.
Contents |
It is found in the United States in the states of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona; and in Mexico in the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí.
Greater earless lizards grow from 3-7 inches in length. They are characterized by the lack of external ear openings, which is presumably to prevent sand from entering their body while they dig. They are normally an overall tan or grey color, reflecting the color of the sand and rocks in their native habitat for camouflage, with black, brown or white spotting. Males often develop bright blue and green colorations, while females tend to be duller in color, except when gravid when they turn a bright orange color. Many have a distinctive pair of curved black bars just before the hind legs.
All earless lizards are diurnal, basking lizards. In the early morning they forage for insects, and then spend several hours basking in the sun, until it becomes too hot, around 111 °F (44 °C) at the surface, when they retreat to a burrow or rock crevice. They are oviparous.