The Spotted Lizards; Zebra-tailed Lizards 



Key to the Spotted Lizards. 



General markings of all tie species. Pale brown, yellowish or 

 gray with two rows of dark blotches on the back, these bluntly 

 triangular, with the points directed toward the tail; on the tail 

 they fuse together, forming V- or W-shaped blotches or bands. 

 Similar, though more obscure blotches on the sides. 



I. Tail flat for nearly its entire length. 



Black cross-bars on under surface of tail; a pair of black 

 crescents on each side of abdomen. 



ZEBRA-TAILED LIZARD, Holbrookia texana, Troschel. 



II. Tail flat at base; greater part round. 



a. Black cross-bars under tail; no black spots on abdomen. 



WHITE-BELLIED LIZARD, Holbrookia lacerata, Cope. 



b. No black cross-bars under tail; a pair of black spots 

 on each side of abdomen. 



Tail longer than head and body; limbs very long. 

 MEXICAN SPOTTED LIZARD, Holbrookia propinqua, B. & G. 

 Tail shorter than head and body; limbs moderate. 

 COMMON SPOTTED LIZARD, Holbrookia maculata, Girard. 



c. No black bars under tail; no black spots on abdomen. 

 Limbs very long. 



SLENDER SPOTTED LIZARD, Holbrookia elegans, Boucourt. 



There is no marked difference in the size of the different 

 species. All vary in the intensity of the markings the blotches 

 on some examples are very obscure. Several varietal names 

 have been proposed, but intergradations are too numerous to 

 permit these to stand. 



Dimensions. The Zebra-tailed Lizard is perhaps the largest 

 species. It attains a length of eight to ten inches. Following 

 are the measurements of an average-sized adult of the Common 

 Spotted Lizard (H. maculata): 



Total Length 4^ inches. 



LengthofTail 2 



Width of Body |i "** 



WidthofHead \ " 



Length of Hind Limb if 



Distribution. Of the different species the Common Spotted 

 Lizard has the most extended distribution. It occurs from 

 Kansas to California, and southward into northern Mexico. 

 The Zebra-tailed Lizard is common in Texas whence it extends 

 westward to California; it occurs also in northern Mexico. The 



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