Facts about Zebra-tailed Lizard
- 08
A vivid blue and green belly patch is displayed by male zebra-tailed lizards as a signal of fitness and territorial ownership to rival males.
- 07
Insects comprise the primary diet of zebra-tailed lizards, which consume roughly 30 to 40 percent of their body weight in arthropods weekly during peak activity seasons.
- 06
Zebra-tailed lizards have a body temperature range of 95 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit during activity, which they maintain through behavioral thermoregulation in their hot desert environment.
- 05
Zebra-tailed lizards possess specialized toe fringes with microscopic scales that enhance traction on loose desert sand, allowing them to accelerate rapidly without sinking into substrate.
- 04
Callisaurus draconoides inhabits desert regions from southern Nevada to northwestern Mexico, preferring sandy and gravelly substrates where ambient temperatures frequently exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 03
During breeding season, male zebra-tailed lizards perform distinctive head bobbing displays and arm waves to attract females and establish territorial dominance.
- 02
The zebra-tailed lizard's distinctive black and white striped tail comprises approximately 60 percent of its total body length and functions as a rudder during high-speed turns.
- 01
At speeds exceeding 18 miles per hour, zebra-tailed lizards of the southwestern United States can run bipedally on their hind legs for short bursts to escape predators.