Description: A medium-sized (up to about 3.75 inches from snout to vent), exceptionally flat and wide lizard. Thick, spike-like scales project from the back of the head. The two central head spikes (occipital horns) project up and back, and are noticeably longer than the other spikes. The bases of the occipital horns are not in contact with one another. Several isolated, pointed scales project from the back. Each lower side of the body is edged with one or two fringes of enlarged, pointed scales. A row of enlarged, pointed scales projects from each side of the throat. Base coloration is tan, gray, or brown and usually matches the soil on which the lizard lives. The lower edges of the body are often infused with salmon, peach, or orange. A pair of large dark blotches marks the neck and the back is often adorned with paired dark blotches. The rear of edge of each body blotch is often outlined with white or cream. The venter is often maked with sparse dark flecks which are more dense and prominent on the anterior venter and throat.
Habitat: In Arizona this desert-dweller inhabits the Lower Colorado River Valley subdivision of Sonoran Desertscrub. It is usually encountered in relatively flat, open, areas with sandy or loamy soil and is less frequently encountered on rocky bajadas and foothills.
Range: This lizard is distributed across Arizona southwestern basin deserts south of the Gila River at elevations ranging from near sea level along the Colorado River to about 2,000 feet. It also occurs in northwestern Sonora, Mexico.
Diet: The bulk of their diet is made up of large-bodied harvester ants that they use their specialized sticky tongues to capture.
Reproduction: oviparous
Status: Listed as Least Concern because the extent of occurrence exceeds 20,000 km2, area of occupancy is unknown, population size is unknown but presumably exceeds 10,000, number of locations apparently exceeds 10, the population is not severely fragmented, and the population is unlikely to be declining fast enough to warrant listing in a more threatened category. However, better information is needed on current distribution, abundance, trend, and threats.
Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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