Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis
| Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Holbrookia |
| Species: | H. lacerata |
| Subspecies: | H. l. subcaudalis |
| Trinomial name | |
| Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis Axtell, 1956 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis, commonly known as the southern spot-tailed earless lizard, is a subspecies of Holbrookia lacerata, the spot-tailed earless lizard. Some sources consider it to be its own species, as Holbrookia subcaudalis.
Geographic range
It is found in northern Mexico and the United States in southern Texas.
Description
The southern spot-tailed earless lizard is overall light gray in color, with two rows of dark blotches, one row down either side of the back. Adults are 11.5-15.2 cm (4.5-6 inches) in total length. They have round, dark spots on the ventral surface of the tail, a characteristic which gives them both their common and scientific names. As with all species and subspecies of earless lizard, they have no external ear openings. When gravid, females will often turn bright green.
Behavior
As with all earless lizards, the southern spot-tailed earless lizard is diurnal and insectivorous.
Habitat
Their preferred habitat is rocky desert flats, with sparse vegetation such as mesquite and prickly pear cactus.
Reproduction
They are oviparous.
References
- Species Holbrookia subcaudalis at The Reptile Database
Further reading
- Axtell, R.W. 1956. A Solution to the Long Neglected Holbrookia lacerata Problem, and the Description of Two New Subspecies of Holbrookia.
Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci. 10 (11): 163-179. (Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis, new subspecies.)
- Behler, J.L., and F.W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: A.A. Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN 0-394-50824-6. (Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis, pp. 509-510.)
- Conant, R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis, p.97 + Map 56.)
- Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3. (Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis, p. 130.)