Lesser Earless Lizard

Common Lesser Earless Lizard

Scientific Name: Holbrookia maculata
Family: Phrynosomatidae

Description and Size

  • Granular scales
  • Lacks external ears
  • Long toes on the hind limbs
  • Total length: 10.0-12.7 cm (3.9-5.0 inches)
  • Wide lightly colored stripe down the center of the back
  • Lightly colored stripes on sides of the body
  • Spots from the neck to the beginning third of the tail
  • Base color: grey to reddish brown

Habitat

  • Hillsides with sparse vegetation and small mammal burrows
  • Sandy soils
  • Bison/Cattle wallows

Diet

  • Terrestrial arthropods
  • Small lizards

Life History

  • Diurnal
  • Active season: Early April – mid-October (Jones and Ballinger)
  • Breeding season: Mid-Spring
  • Lays eggs
  • 1-2 clutches of 1-12 eggs per female

Range

Lesser Earless Lizard

Most common range within the last 50 years and does not include outliers. For more info email dferraro1@unl.edu.