The Zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) is a species of lizard native to the Southwestern United States and adjacent northwestern Mexico. It can survive in the hottest weather and often hides from predators burrowing itself under sand.
Zebra-tailed lizards are grey to sandy brown, usually with a series of paired dark gray spots down the back, becoming black crossbands on the tail. The underside of the tail is white with black crossbars. 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-tailed lizards are found throughout the Southwestern United States, ranging from the Mojave and Colorado deserts north into the southern Great Basin. Within that range, they live in open desert with hard-packed soil, scattered vegetation, and scattered rocks, typically flats, washes, and plains.
Zebra-tailed lizards are very alert solitary reptiles. They rise early and are active in all but the hottest weather. During the hottest times of day, Zebra-tailed lizards may stand alternately on two legs, switching to the opposite two as needed in a kind of dance. When threatened, they 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. Zebra-tailed lizards burrow into fine sandy soil for retreat at night and during the day usually sheltering in the shade of bushes. They may also burrow under sand for safety when being chased by predators.
Zebra-tailed lizards are carnivores. They eat moths, ants, bees, spiders, and other smaller lizards. They may occasionally supplement their diet with vegetation, such as spring buds and flowers.
Zebra-tailed lizards are polygynous meaning one male mates with more than one female during the breeding season. Males attract females by performing a series of head bobs and push-ups. They also do so when defending their territories. In summer, females typically lay 2 to 8 eggs, which hatch from July to November; they can lay more than one clutch during a season. Eggs are laid, presumably, in friable, sandy soil where they are incubated for 48-62 days. Females will guard the nest area until the eggs are ready to hatch and after that don't provide any parental care. Baby lizards have an "egg-tooth" - a structure on their nose used to break through the egg and is lost shortly after hatching. The young are very small when they hatch but are completely independent and can take care of themselves. They become reproductively mature at 2 years of age.
Zebra-tailed lizards are not threatened at present although they do suffer from the loss of their habitat due to degradation and expansion of agricultural and residential areas.
According to the IUCN Red List, the Zebra-tailed lizard is common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Zebra-tailed lizards help control populations of insects which they feed on and serve as prey item for many animals, including birds, other lizards, and mammals.
