Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis

Taxobox
name = Southern Spot-tailed Earless Lizard
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Sauria
familia = Phrynosomatidae
genus = "Holbrookia"
species = "H. lacerata"
subspecies = "H. l. subcaudalis"
trinomial = "Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis"
trinomial_authority = Axtell, 1956
synonyms = "Holbrookia subcaudalis"
Liner, 1994

The Southern Spot-tailed Earless Lizard ("Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis") is a subspecies of the Spot-tailed Earless Lizard, ("Holbrookia lacerata"). Some sources consider it to be its own species, as "Holbrookia subcaudalis". It is found in northern Mexico and the United States in southern Texas.

Description

The Southern Spot-tailed Earless Lizard is overall light grey in color, with two rows of dark blotches down either side of the back. They can grow from 4.5 to 6 inches in length and have round, dark spots on the tail which gives them their common name. As with all species of earless lizard, they have no external ear openings. When gravid, females will often turn bright green.

Behavior

As with all earless lizards, the Southern Spot-tailed Earless Lizard is diurnal and insectivorous. Their preferred habitat is rocky desert flats, with sparse vegetation such as mesquite and prickly pear cactus. They are oviparous.

References

*EMBL species|genus=Holbrookia|species=subcaudalis
* [http://www.lifesci.utexas.edu/research/txherps/lizards/holbrookia.lacerata.html Herps of Texas: "Holbrookia lacerata"]