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Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Lizards Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)

General Description: Mojave Fringe-toed Lizards (Uma scoparia) are fast, light-colored lizards found in open sandy areas and sand dunes. They have a blunt snout with protruding "lips," a black spot on each side of the body behind the front legs, and black bars on the underside of the tail. The body form is broad and flat. The dorsal pattern is a black background with many, tiny white circles (eye spots). These lizards escape predators by diving into the sand and "swimming" away.

In breeding season, Mojave Fringe-toed Lizards develop a yellow-green wash on the belly with some pink on the sides.

The common name comes from the "fringe" of elongate scales on the back of the toes that acts as a snowshoe and helps them run very fast on soft sand.

Taxonomy: Phrynosomatid Lizard Family.

Technical Description: Body length 2-3/4 to 4-1/2 in. Ocelli on dorsum randomly placed (do not form lines). Throat with dark, crescent-shaped patches. Black spot on each side of the belly.

Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Fringed, elongate scales on toes

Diet: Carnivorous, eating mostly insects, spiders (arthropods in general), but also eating some plant material.

Habitat: Sandy areas and sand dunes.

Range: Eastern Mojave Desert of southeastern California and a tiny bit of western Arizona.

Comments: These lizards dive into the sand and "swim" to escape predators.

Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia) Mojave Fringe-toed Lizards hide in sand dunes by burying themselves in the sand. This lizard might be hunting from cover with most of its body under the sand, but with an eye above so it can see what is out and about on the dune.
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia) Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Blunt snout with extended "lips"
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Broad, flat body form with dorsal pattern that matches sand grains
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Fringe scales on the hind-foot toe of a Fringe-toed Lizard
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Spots on the sides of an otherwise white belly
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard with blunt snout and extended "lips"
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
Hiding in sand with one eye exposed to watch for prey and danger
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Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 231214

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