Lizards of the Pajarito Plateau

By Teralene S. Foxx

Reptiles have skin covered with tough scales, they have claws on their toes, and eggs have a flexible, leathery shell. Their body temperature is affected by heat or cold. Their body temperature is adjusted to throughout seasonal variations.

On the Pajarito Plateau there are 11 species of lizards, and 12 species of snakes. Among these 11 lizard species, six are common: Prairie Lizard, Collarded Lizard, Short-horned Lizard, Plateau Whiptail, Great Plains Skink, and Many-lined Skink.

There are two species of skinks that are found in the area: the Many-lined skink (Eumeces multivirgatus) and the Great Plains skink (Eumeces obsoletus). The juveniles of the many-lined skink can be easily recognized by their bright blue tail. The juveniles of the Great Plains skink are blue-black to jet black with a bright blue tail and orange and white spots on the head. These species like wet or damp areas along streams or enclosed basins.

The information presented here is taken from the following publication: Foxx, Teralene S., Timothy K. Haarmann, and David C Keller. Amphibians and Reptiles of Los Alamos County. Los Alamos National Laboratory publication. LA-13626-MS, October 1999. This publication is available for viewing at PEEC.

	Collared Lizard, Crotaphylus collaris This large, robust lizard with a dark stripe near the throat is most commonly found in White Rock Canyon and along the southern edge of the Pajarito Plateau from late April or early May until they go into winter hibernation. They like boulder-strewn or talus slopes where they prey on grasshoppers, other lizards, eat berries, leaves and flowers. At times when startled they will run with forelegs lifted off the ground and the tail raised. This lizard does not readily lose its tail.
	Short-horned Lizard, Phrynosoma douglasii This squat little lizard, sometimes called a "horny toad," has an oval shaped body and daggerlike head spines. As this lizard scurries away in a waddling movement it is hard to resist picking it up. Keeping this lizard in captivity generally results in its death because it eats hundreds of ants and cannot get enough food to survive. So be kind: don't keep this little guy, even though he looks cute! Look and leave. The lizard bears live young and can have 9-30 little ones that can fend for themselves within an hour of birth.
	Fence Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus This is by far the most common lizard in Los Alamos. It is sometimes called a "blue belly," "prairie lizard" or "swift." The main body color is gray, brown, or reddish with light stripes along either side of the back. The underside of the males has bright blue belly patches. They can be found in a variety of environments. They eat insects. These quick moving lizards will lose their tail when grasped by a predator, but it will eventually grow back. Photo of juvenile.
	Tree Lizard, Urosaurus ornatus At first glance, the tree lizard may look similar to the more-common fence lizard. Indeed, they are similar in overall size and shape. However, they differ in color pattern, and the tree lizard has a more flattened body shape. The coloration of this lizard varies from population to population, probably influenced by the color of the soil. Like the fence lizard, the male may have blue belly patches. Despite the name, the tree lizard is primarily seen on rocks.
	*Whiptails, Cnemidophorus* spp.** There are three species of similar-looking whiptails that can be found in the area. The most common of them is the Plateau striped whiptail (Cnemidophorus velox). The lizard has six distinct light-colored stripes running from head to tail with a less distict stripe down the middle of the back. The body is blackish brown and the end of the tail is blue (the whole tail of a juvenile is bright blue). They seek cover under shrubs and actively pursue insects.
	Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail, Cnemidophorus exsanguis This lizard is less-common than the fence lizard, but is found throughout Los Alamos County.
	Checkered Whiptail, Cnemidophorus tesselatus This is an uncommon lizard in Los Alamos County, but they have been seen in White Rock Canyon and Potrillo Cliffs.
	Many-lined Skink, Eumeces multivirgatus Photo of juvenile.
	Great Plains Skink, Eumeces obsoletus Photo of adult.
	Great Plains Skink, Eumeces obsoletus Photo of juvenile.