Reptiles - Lizards
There are quite a few species of lizards in the Chihuahuan Desert. Here are a few.
Collared LizardThe collard lizard, sometimes called a "Mountain Boomer," almost seems to
be a small reincarnation of the extinct dinosaur Tyranosaurus rex. His
massive head and strong jaws full of very sharp teeth are used as weapons
to obtain his principal food - other lizards. As with T-rex, he also is
capable of running on his hind legs. He is active only during daylight
hours, usually morning, and he lives primarily in the rocky foothills and
canyons. This fast moving little green critter runs fast and is difficult
to catch. If caught he is quite capable of delivering a nasty nip to ones
fingers, drawing blood in the process.
Texas Horned LizardThe Texas horned lizard is one of three species that might be encountered
in this area and the largest. Although they look quite menacing with
those sharp horns they wear as a collar, these plump little lizards are
quite harmless. The Texas horned lizard likes sandy areas where he can
easily burrow beneath the surface. His primary diet is ants. He will sit
for hours on a harvester ant colony snapping up the insects as they come
and go.
This lizard has an unusual defense mechanism that is used to
disorient and startle possible predators. He is capable of shooting a
small stream of blood from pores located near the eyes.
This lizard is rapidly disappearing from our area, due partly to habitat
loss and over collecting by those seeking the animal as a pet. They are
not recomended as pets as they are almost impossible to maintain alive in
captivity for any length of time.
 Whiptail Lizards
There are, perhaps, six species of whiptail lizard to be found within this area.
. All have the same basic build - long, slender and
built for speed. In fact, their other common name is "race runner." Of
the six species, 3 are parthenogenic - they reproduce by cloning. The
species consisting only of females. In the early summer the lizard lays
several eggs which develop into exact copies of the mother without being
fertilized. All feed on insects and other small animals they catch during
their daytime patrols of the desert. The species shown is the New Mexico
whiptail.
|
