DESERT SPINY LIZARD



lizard1

This desert spiny lizard was resting under our rain barrels in our back yard. We had raised the rain barrels with a concrete block and some stones. It was the perfect resting place for a lizard.

This lizard has yellow stripes and a dark collar around its neck. I am pretty sure I have identified him correctly.

The size of these lizards are about 5 1/2" not including the tail. They range all over southern and western Arizona's desertscrubs. They are found in elevations from sea level to 5,000 ft. When caught it may bite with it's strong jaws. It is often found in wood piles or burrows with pack rats. It eats insects, small lizards and some plants.

I need to do a page on pack rats. Pack rats will also share their burrow with rattlesnakes. They seem to be very trusting or very nieve. Just one of those oddities in nature.

lizard 2 This little guy was sitting outside on the east porch basking in the morning sun. We had a lot of desert spiney lizards near the house. He was about 6 inches long.

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