Holbrookia maculata perspicua

Taxobox
name = Prairie Earless Lizard
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Iguania
familia = Phrynosomatidae
genus = "Holbrookia"
species = "H. maculata"
subspecies = "H. m. perspicua"
trinomial = "Holbrookia maculata perspicua"
trinomial_authority = Axtell, 1956

The Prairie Earless Lizard or Eastern Earless Lizard ("Holbrookia maculata perspicua") is a subspecies of the Lesser Earless Lizard, ("Holbrookia maculata") found in the prairies of the central United States from South Dakota in the north, as far south as Texas.

Description

The Prairie Earless Lizard is an overall gray-brown in color, with rows of dark blotches on either side of the back, with a light colored stripe down the middle. The males have black and white diagonal markings just before their hind legs, which typically females lack. They grow from 4.5 to 6 inches in length, and like all earless lizards, they have no external ear openings. As their range overlaps with other subspecies of "H. maculata", distinguishing them can be difficult.

Behavior

Like all earless lizards, the Prairie Earless Lizard is diurnal and insectivorous. They are often seen basking themselves on rocks, but will 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"]