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Common Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Lizards Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Common Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)

General Description: Common Zebra-tailed Lizards (Callisaurus draconoides) are fast, light-colored lizards found in open sandy and open gravel areas such as washes. The tail is black-and-white banded, and the bands fully encircle the tail. Zebra-tailed Lizards often curl their tail up over their back and wave it in the air as if to attract attention.

Male Zebra-tailed Lizards have a pair of dark bars on their sides that extend to their bellies. Females may have the dark bars, but if so, they are faint. During breeding season, males acquire a yellow wash overall and blue on the belly. Females acquire a yellow wash on the lower sides and orange spots in the armpit, but they lack blue patches on the belly. Males also develop an orange dewlap.

Taxonomy: Phrynosomatid Lizard Family.

Common Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)

Technical Description: Light-colored lizards to about 8 in. (20 cm) total length. The overall color is tan to light brown with two dark bars on the side of body near mid-body. The tail has black bands that completely encircle the tail (compare to earless lizards). The head is wedge-shaped, and the scales are fine and smooth. Zebra-tails have external ear openings present (compare with earless lizards). In breeding season, Zebra-tails get a yellow wash with a bit of orange on the dewlap.

Zebra-tails look similar to Earless Lizards (which occur in Arizona). In Zebra-tails, the black bands completely encircle the tail, while in earless lizards, the black bands are on the underside of the trail. Zebra-tails also have external ear openings, which earless lizards do not.

Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)

Diet: Carnivorous, eating mostly insects, spiders (arthropods in general), some plant material, and occasionally other lizards.

Habitat: Washes, sandy areas, and open gravel flats with few plants where they can escape predators by digging into the sand and then dating quickly away when necessary.

Range: Southern and western Nevada, southeastern California, southern Arizona, and northern Mexico. Look for Zebra-tails at Death Valley NP, Lake Mead NRA and in southern Gold Butte National Monument.

Comments: These lizards often curl their tail upward (revealing bold black and white barring) and wave it side-to-side before running. Also holds tail up when running. Curling the tail up may cause predators to attack their tail, which comes off, allowing the lizard to escape.

Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) If you were a tasty bug or a little fly, this might be the last face you ever see!
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Tail with black-and-white bands
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Black-and-white bands extend under tail
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Male in breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Male in breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Male in breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Male in non-breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Male in non-breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Male in non-breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Male in non-breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Male in non-breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Female in breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Female in breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Female: note faint bars on side
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Female in non-breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Female in non-breeding condition
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Female; possibly gravid
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Young Zebra-tailed Lizard
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Hatchling Zebra-tailed Lizard
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Even sand-loving Zebra-tailed Lizards like a good lookout perch
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Zebra tail on lookout
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Holding toes off the ground on a hot day
Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Catching lizards with a noose ensures the tail is not damaged

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 231212

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