Family: Xantusiidae, Night Lizards view all from this family
Description 3 3/4-5 1/16" (9.5-12.8 cm). No eyelids; pupils vertical. Olive, yellow, brown, or orange; usually many small dark spots tending to form rows. Skin soft. Head scales large, symmetrical; back scales large, square, and smooth; 12 scales across midbelly.
Subspecies Six; 4 in the U.S.:
Yucca Night Lizard (X. v. vigilis), olive brown above, spots tend to fuse, smallest subspecies; s. Nevada and extreme sw. Utah and nw. Arizona into s. California and n. Baja California; disjunct population in sw. Arizona (Kofa Mountains).
Arizona Night Lizard (X. v. arizonae), yellow or gray above, largest subspecies; c. Arizona along s. edge of Colorado Plateau (Mohave, Pinal, and Yavapai counties).
Sierra Night Lizard (X. v. sierrae), spots fused into netlike pattern, broad light stripe behind eye; s. California (Kern County) in sw. foothills of Sierra Nevada.
Utah Night Lizard (X. v. utahensis), yellow-orange above; sc. Utah (Garfield County).
Breeding Mates May to June. 1-3 young born alive, tail first and upside down, September to October.
Habitat Arid and semiarid granite outcroppings and rocky areas, among fallen leaves and trunks of yuccas, agaves, Joshua trees.
Range S. Nevada, s. Utah, and w. and c. Arizona through s. California into Mexico.
Discussion Diurnal. Activity may continue after dusk, hence the name. This species feeds on termites, ants, beetles, and flies encountered under decaying vegetation or rocks. The tail breaks off easily.
