Western Earless Lizard
Holbrookia maculata
Adult body length up to 2.75 inches, not including tail. Small, stout body with thin tapering tail. Back legs longer than front. Coloration occurs in gray, tan, or orangi…
How to identify
Adult body length up to 2.75 inches, not including tail. Small, stout body with thin tapering tail. Back legs longer than front. Coloration occurs in gray, tan, or orangish-brown with a variety of marking patterns. Typically dorsal side has four rows of brown blotches and light specks running down length of body & tail. Sides have two black spots just behind front legs. Underside nearly uniform white in addition to the lack of ear openings, distinguishes it from similar species.
Range
Southwestern United States & into northern Mexico. Range extends north to South Dakota, south to northern Mexico, east to central Texas and west to western Arizona
Habitat
Terrestrial. Habitats include grasslands, chaparral, woodlands, and other open terrain.
Variations
Males: light yellow tint to undersides, blue border around black side spots, and more light-colored specks on body than females. Females: when gravid, often have pink/peach tint and an orange throat patch.
Similar species
Name and etymology
Genus
Holbrookia
Honoring John Edward Holbrook
Origin
Honors
Sources
- Girard, 1851. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., New Haven, Vol. 4, p. 200
Holbrookia. Girard, 1851 - Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., New Haven, Vol. 4, p. 200
Species epithet
maculata
Latin for spotted.
Origin
Sources
- Girard, 1851. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., New Haven, Vol. 4, p. 201
Holbrookia maculata. Girard, 1851 - Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., New Haven, Vol. 4, p. 201
Explore more names in the etymology index.
More illustrations
At a glance
Range
Southwestern United States & into northern Mexico. Range extends north to South Dakota, south to northern Mexico, east to cen…
Habitat
Terrestrial. Habitats include grasslands, chaparral, woodlands, and other open terrain.
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap