Common zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)

Brilliant colors, distinctive tail, and bizarre movements - it must be the Zebra Tailed Lizard These lizards are ultra cool: first they have amazing colors with blue, green, yellow, pink, orange and of course, black and white; then the tail stands out like a sore thumb with those stripes (and hence the name) and which is often curled up over the body, and finally, if frightened, they take off like a shot, almost flying over the hot sand with their tails over their heads. These are probably my favorite small lizards. Arizona,Callisaurus draconoides,Geotagged,Summer,United States,zebra-tailed lizard

Appearance

They range in size from 2.5 to 4 inches in snout-to-vent length. These lizards are grey to sandy brown, usually with series of paired dark gray spots down their backs, becoming black bands on the tails. The underside of tail is white with black bands. Males have a pair of black blotches on their sides, extending to blue patches on their bellies. Females have no blue patches, and the black bars are either faint or completely absent.

Zebra Tail A medium-sized (up to 102 mm or 4" from snout to vent), tan to yellowish tan lizard with long, slender limbs and a flattened tail. Two longitudinal rows of small gray-brown spots run down the middle of the back. The upper surfaces of the body are often marked with numerous cream spots or flecks. The back of each thigh is marked with a distinct, dark, horizontal line. The tail is marked with gray-brown bands that become black on the underside where they sharply contrast with the white background. The groin and lower sides are often tinted yellow. There are two dark bars on each side of the belly that extend up onto the sides just behind the forelimbs. On males the belly bars are surrounded by patches of blue and sometimes yellow and orange. A pink or peach spot often marks the throat. On females bars are faint or lacking. The body scales are small and granular. The external ear openings and forward position of its side bars distinguish this lizard from the similar looking Greater Earless Lizard. Callisaurus draconoides,Geotagged,Spring,United States

Behavior

They are diurnal and alert. They rise early and are active in all but the hottest weather. During the hottest times of day, lizards may stand alternately on two legs, switching to the opposite two as needed in a kind of dance. When threatened they will run swiftly with their toes curled up and tails raised over their backs exposing the stripes. When stopped, they wag their curled tails side-to-side to distract predators. They can even run on their hind legs for short distances. In areas of creosote scrub this lizard seems to reach highest densities, around 4.8 to 6.0 individuals per acre . This lizard burrows into fine sand for retreat at night and usually seeks day shelter in the shade of bushes.
They are also known to burrow under sand for safety when being chased by predators.

Zebra-tail lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) Tucson, AZ. Mar 16, 2015. Callisaurus draconoides,Geotagged,United States,Winter

Habitat

They live in open desert with fairly hard-packed soil, scattered vegetation and scattered rocks, typically flats, washes and plains.

Reproduction

In summer, 2 to 8 eggs are typically laid, hatching anywhere from July to November. However, more than 1 clutch can be laid during a season. Eggs are laid, presumably, in friable, sandy soil. Being a prey species for many animals, including birds, other lizards, and mammals, they have a fairly high reproductive rate.

Food

It feeds on a variety of prey from insects, such as moths, ants and bees, as well as spiders and other smaller lizards. Its diet occasionally includes vegetation, such as spring buds and flowers.

References:

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Taxonomy
Kingdom	Animalia
Division	Chordata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Family	Phrynosomatidae
Genus	Callisaurus
Species	C. draconoides

Photographed in
United States of America