Desert Reptiles and Landscapes
Collared Lizards of the Genus Crotaphytus
The Reticulated Collared Lizard
Crotaphytus reticulatus is a tan to brown lizard with reticulations covering most of its dorsum, limbs, and tail. Some of these reticulations are filled with black pigmentation. Unlike the rest of Crotaphytus, there is no color difference between males and females except during the breeding season. During this time males develop a bright yellow coloration on their chest. The collars on C. reticulatus are faint and the anterior collar is complete ventrally. The dewlap, or gular area is a greenish gray with black pigmentation in the center. The gular area of the female is white to yellow without the black pigmentation in the center. Collared lizards have small pockets at the base of the tail and folds of skin above the front legs. Mites and chiggers gather in these areas. C. reticulatus lacks post-femoral mite pockets that are present in the rest of the genus. This suggests that this genus broke away from the ancestral group first. C. reticulatus has black oral melanin and black femoral pore secretions, the rest of the genus, except C. antiquus, has gray secretions.Of all the Crotaphytid species, C. reticulatus is the only species that is not restricted to rocky habitat. It is native to the Tampaulipan biotic province, a thornscrub desert, of southern Texas and adjacent Mexico. C. reticulatus spends its life on the ground much like a close relative the leopard lizard. When threatened, it will take refuge in rodent borrows and under brush. This species range is declining due to habitat destruction and possibly climate change. The reticulated collared lizard is the only Crotaphytid species in the United States that is protected from collecting.
The Common Collared Lizard
Crotaphytus collaris has the largest distribution of all Crotaphytus species. It is the most common species found in the pet trade. C. collaris is the most generalized of all the collared lizards and has adapted to many different habitats.