Camouflage in lizards - A side-blotched lizard in Arizona

Most lizards of the desert are carnivorous as plants often have a tough waxy cuticle and may also be equipped with sharp spines.  I have seen common side-blotched lizards in Arizona and California, although they are also present east toward Texas and south into Mexico.  They don't get much bigger than about 5 inches in length but are ravenous eaters of creatures they can fit in their mouths.  This includes insects, centi and millipedes, arachnids, and even small lizards.

Their broken pattern of white and black spots on a brown field renders them very difficult to see.  They are crepuscular in nature, avoiding the hot sun or cool evenings.  They will hide in any available void in rock or earth unless they are actively hunting.  They will also bury themselves in sand.  During the early morning, they first come out to warm up in the sun and then oscillate between sun and shadow to maintain a reasonable inner temperature.  They also will raise their bodies off the substrate to reduce heat transfer from the surface.

When stationary on a broken surface as the one is above, they are hard to see.  If you get too close for their comfort they will dart away.  Although they are very fast, certain predators are capable of spotting them and catching them before they can seek refuge.  Larger lizards, snakes, and certain birds such as the road runner will gobble them up in a heartbeat when given the chance.

They are easy to keep as pets, although their lifespan is only about three years.  They are also susceptible to numerous parasites including nematodes, tapeworms, mites, and blood parasites.  An infected individual can pass the parasite to other lizards.  They are not an invasive species, although I don't know if they are allowed as pets in Canada.  

Thanks for reading

Eric Svendsen     www.ericpix.com