Canyon Country Animals
Reptiles: Lizard
A wide variety of reptiles have made their niche in this region. From the drab spiny lizards to the more colorful collard lizards, from the harmless gopher snakes to the more dangerous rattlesnake, they all fulfill a roll in the ecosystem of the canyon country.
Collard Lizard
Scientific Name: Crotaphytus bicinctores
We've run across many collard lizards in the Colorado Plateau region. If you're careful and approach them slowly, they will sit and allow you to get a good look. This guy posed for us while on a hike in Canyonlands National Park in Utah.
- Collard Lizard
The Natural Heritage Center - Great Basin Collard Lizard
USGS site.
Whiptail Lizard
Scientific Name: Cnemidoporus species
This guy was spotted in the Moab area of Utah.
Alligator Lizard
Scientific Name: Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata
When we first spotted this guy near the base of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, we thought it was a stunted snake. It was about eight inches long, with half of its body about the size of my index finger and its head about the size of Anne's thumb, and the second half of its body was thin, like a stick. It looked really stubby. Its markings were dark chocolate brown bands over a lighter tan color. Its head was somewhat pointed. You can't see it in this photo, but the tail ends abruptly and then is pencil thin and discolored. We thought for sure it was some sort of malformed or mutant snake. But when we examined this photo at home we spotted the legs and got quite a surprise. All four limbs are clearly visible once you recognize them. This guy was about eight inches long.
- Alligator Lizard
Kaweah Oaks Preserve. - Alligator Lizard
Nature Notebooks. - California Alligator Lizard
Wildherps.com.
Leopard Lizard
Scientific Name: Gambelia wislizenii
This guy was photographed in Arches National Park in Utah.
- Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard
San Diego Natural History Museum Field Guide. - Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard
Herpescope. - Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard
Idaho State University.
Spiny Lizard
Scientific Name: Sceloporus
This guy was photographed at one of the campsites along the White Rim in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. We've seen several varieties of spiny lizards all around the Colorado Plateau Region, and down into southern Arizona.
- Desert Spiny Lizard
Colorado Herpetological Society. - Desert Spiny Lizard
Wildherps.com - Granite Spiny Lizard
USGS.
Horned Lizard
Scientific Name: Phrynosoma
We photographed this handsome looking guy while hiking along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. He was very patient and allowed us to take several shots.
- Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. - Horned Lizard
DesertUSA site. - Horned Lizard Conservation Society
Photos
Notes
All of the photos on this page were taken by the author at the locations indicated.
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