Holbrookia maculata approximans

Taxobox
name = Speckled Earless Lizard
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Iguania
familia = Phrynosomatidae
genus = "Holbrookia"
species = "H. maculata"
subspecies = "H. m. approximans"
trinomial = "Holbrookia maculata approximans"
trinomial_authority = Baird, 1958
synonyms = "Holbrookia maculata flavilenta"
Cope, 1883
"Holbrookia maculata campi"
Schmidt, 1921

The Speckled Earless Lizard ("Holbrookia maculata approximans") is a subspecies of the Lesser Earless Lizard, ("Holbrookia maculata") that is found in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. They are sometimes referred to as the Western Earless Lizard.

Description

The Speckled Earless Lizard is an overall grey-brown in color, with black and white speckling all along its back, with a solid grey-brown underside. It has distinct black and white bars immediately preceding the hind legs. Males tend to have a blue coloration to the white bars, whereas females do not. Like all species of earless lizard, it has no external ear openings.

Behavior

Like all species of earless lizard, the Speckled Earless Lizard is diurnal and insectivorous. They prefer sandy, grassland habitats with sparse vegetation. They tend to be a nervous, wary species that flee quickly if approached.

References

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