Zebra-tailed lizard

Living species

Zebra-tailed lizard

Callisaurus draconoides

Zebra-tailed lizard, photo by Joshua Tree National Park — Photo: Joshua Tree National Park·source·Public domain (U.S. federal work)

Taxonomy

kingdom: Animalia
phylum: Chordata
class: Reptilia
order: Squamata
family: Phrynosomatidae
genus: Callisaurus
species: Callisaurus draconoides

Where and when

Range: Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico
Habitat: Open, sandy or gravelly desert flats and washes where it can sprint between cover.
Lived: Living today

Facts

Escape: When alarmed, the lizard runs rapidly on its hind legs and curls its black-and-white banded tail over its back.
Source
Habitat: It is a fast-running resident of open desert terrain, including sandy flats, washes, and sparsely vegetated ground.
Source

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