Fringe-toed lizard

Last updated

Fringe-toed lizard
Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard.JPG
Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, Uma inornata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Uma
Baird, 1859 [1]

Fringe-toed lizards are lizards of the genus Uma in the family Phrynosomatidae, native to deserts of North America. They are adapted for life in sandy deserts with fringe-like scales on their hind toes hence their common name.

Contents

Descriptions

Lizards of the genus Uma have a brown and tan coloration that helps them to blend in with the sand. The dorsal surface has a velvety texture with intricate markings. In addition, they also have prominent elongated scales which form a fringe on the sides of their hind toes. [2] These fringes aid with traction and speed, and help the lizard avoid sinking into loose, sandy dunes. [3]

Fringe-toed lizards also possess upper jaws which overlap the lower ones, preventing the intrusion of sand particles, and nostrils that can be closed at will. Flaps also close against the ear openings when moving through sand, and the upper and lower eyelids have interlocking scales that prevent sand from getting into the eyes. [2]

Geographic range

Fringe-toed lizards range throughout southeast California and southwest Arizona, and extend into northwest Sonora and northeast Baja California. [2]

Habitat

Lizards of the genus Uma are found in low desert areas having fine, loose sand.

Diet

Fringe-toed lizards primarily eat insects, including ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Flower buds, stems, leaves and seeds of plants are also eaten. [2]

Behavior

Lizards of the genus Uma bury themselves underground in the winter. They sleep in their burrows, and use their burrows for protection from predators and extreme temperatures.

Species

ImageCommon NameScientific NameDistribution
Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard.JPG Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard Uma inornata Cope, 1895Coachella Valley, Riverside County, California
Colorado Desert Fringe-toed Lizard imported from iNaturalist photo 1526425 on 2 January 2022.jpg Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard Uma notata Baird, 1858Imperial County, California to Sonora, Mexico.
Mohawk Dunes Fringe-toed Lizard imported from iNaturalist photo 15198038 on 2 January 2022.jpg Mohawk Dunes fringe-toed lizard Uma thurmanae Derycke, Gottscho, Mulcahy, & De Queiroz, 2020southern Arizona.
Uma-scoparia.jpg Mojave fringe-toed lizard Uma scoparia Cope, 1894California to western Arizona
Yuman Desert Fringe-toed Lizard imported from iNaturalist photo 39743992 on 2 January 2022.jpg Yuman Desert fringe-toed lizard Uma cowlesi Heifetz, 1941northwestern Mexico
Chihuahuan fringe-toed lizard Uma paraphygas K.L. Williams, Chrapliwy & H.M. Smith, 1959Mexico.
Fringe-toed Sand Lizard imported from iNaturalist photo 28265310 on 20 April 2022.jpg Fringe-toed sand lizard Uma exsul Schmidt & Bogert, 1947 [4] Mexico.

"Uma rufopunctata ", the previous name for the Yuman Desert fringe-toed lizard, was found in 2016 to represent a hybrid between U. notata and U. cowlesi. [5] ||

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden mole</span> Monotypic family of mammals

Golden moles are small insectivorous burrowing mammals endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. They comprise the family Chrysochloridae and as such they are taxonomically distinct from the true moles, family Talpidae, and other mole-like families, all of which, to various degrees, they resemble as a result of evolutionary convergence. There are 21 species. Some are relatively common, whereas others are rare and endangered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crotaphytidae</span> Family of lizards

The Crotaphytidae, or collared lizards, are a family of desert-dwelling reptiles native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Alternatively they are recognized as a subfamily, Crotaphytinae, within the clade Pleurodonta. They are very fast-moving animals, with long limbs and tails; some species are capable of achieving bipedal running at top speed. This species is carnivorous, feeding mainly on insects and smaller lizards. The two genera contain 12 species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phrynosomatidae</span> Family of lizards

The Phrynosomatidae are a diverse family of lizards, sometimes classified as a subfamily (Phrynosomatinae), found from Panama to the extreme south of Canada. Many members of the group are adapted to life in hot, sandy deserts, although the spiny lizards prefer rocky deserts or even relatively moist forest edges, and the short-horned lizard lives in prairie or sagebrush environments. The group includes both egg-laying and viviparous species, with the latter being more common in species living at high elevations.

<i>Ptenopus</i> Genus of lizards

Ptenopus is a small genus of lizards, known commonly as barking geckos, in the family Gekkonidae. The genus is endemic to southern Africa. There are only three described species in this genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zebra-tailed lizard</span> Species of lizard

The zebra-tailed lizard is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to the Southwestern United States and adjacent northwestern Mexico. There are nine recognized subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater earless lizard</span> Species of lizard

The greater earless lizard is the only species in the monotypic genus Cophosaurus. It is closely related to the smaller, lesser earless lizards and other species in the genus Holbrookia, and in fact was placed in that genus and referred to Holbrookia texana from 1852 into the 1970s. Earless lizards lack external ear openings, an adaptation to burrowing in the sand, as are the recessed lower jaw and flared upper labial scales. Greater earless lizards are sexually dimorphic, males grow larger and are more colorful than females, exhibiting pink and green colors that are particularly bright in the breeding season. Two bold black bars mark the lateral region of males but are greatly reduced and vague, or occasionally entirely absent in females.

<i>Meroles</i> Genus of lizards

Meroles is a genus of lizards, commonly known as desert lizards, in the family Lacertidae. The genus contains eight species, inhabiting southwestern Africa, especially the Namib Desert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard</span> Species of phrynosomatid lizard

The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard is a species of phrynosomatid lizard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian fringe-fingered lizard</span> Species of lizard

The Indian fringe-fingered lizard, also known commonly as the Indian fringe-toed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mojave fringe-toed lizard</span> Species of lizard

The Mojave fringe-toed lizard is a species of medium-sized, white or grayish, black-spotted diurnal lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is adapted to arid climates and is most commonly found in sand dunes within the Mojave Desert. Fringe-toed lizards are characterized by their fringed scales on their hind toes which make locomotion in loose sand possible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xerocole</span> Any animal adapted to live in the desert

A xerocole, is a general term referring to any animal that is adapted to live in a desert. The main challenges xerocoles must overcome are lack of water and excessive heat. To conserve water they avoid evaporation and concentrate excretions. Some are so adept at conserving water or obtaining it from food that they do not need to drink at all. To escape the desert heat, xerocoles tend to be either nocturnal or crepuscular.

<i>Ichnotropis capensis</i> Species of lizard

Ichnotropis capensis is a species of African lizard, which is native to the southern Afrotropics. It is the type species for the genus Ichnotropis, and is commonly called the Cape rough-scaled lizard due to them being found in southern Africa's Cape region. They are also called ornate rough-scaled lizard or Smith's rough-scaled sand lizard. The small lizards are terrestrial and occur in grassland, desert and brush areas of southern Africa.

<i>Diplodactylus conspicillatus</i> Species of lizard

Diplodactylus conspicillatus, the variable fat-tailed gecko or burrow-plug gecko, is a diplodactylid gecko endemic to central and arid inland areas of Australia. Widespread across the continent, the variable fat-tailed is most commonly found in sandy desert habitats dominated by spinifex grasses. They have also been bred in captivity by zoos and as pets.

<i>Teratoscincus scincus</i> Species of lizard

Teratoscincus scincus, commonly referred to as the common wonder gecko or the frog-eyed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is native to arid parts of Asia and has special adaptations which suit it to desert life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert egernia</span> Species of lizard

The desert egernia, unadorned desert-skink or desert skink is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The desert egernia is endemic to the continent of Australia, and is widespread, with populations recorded in all mainland states and territories except the Australian Capital Territory. The desert egernia is found in dry, desert areas with deep, uncompacted sandy/loamy soils and little significant vegetation cover.

<i>Eremiascincus richardsonii</i> Species of lizard

The broad-banded sand-swimmer or Richardson's skink is a species of skink found in Australia.

The yellow-tailed plain slider is a species of skink located primarily in the desert areas of South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales in Australia. This uncommon lizard can be identified by its bright yellow tail, and is usually found buried under loose soil, tree stumps and leaf litter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard</span> Species of lizard

The Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard is a species of medium-sized, diurnal lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is adapted to arid climates and is most commonly found in sand dunes within the Colorado Desert of the United States and Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohawk Dunes fringe-toed lizard</span> Species of phrynosomatid lizard

The Mohawk Dunes fringe-toed lizard is a species of phrynosomatid lizard endemic to the U.S. state of Arizona. Its name is a reference to American actress Uma Thurman, as both a pun on the genus name Uma as well as a tribute to the actress for her conservation advocacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuman Desert fringe-toed lizard</span> Species of phrynosomatid lizard

The Yuman Desert fringe-toed lizard is a species of phrynosomatid lizard endemic to northwestern Mexico, although a hybrid population of it and Uma notata ranges north to southwestern Arizona in the United States.

References

  1. "Uma ". Wikispecies
  2. 1 2 3 4 Stebbins, Robert C. (2003). A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 280–282. ISBN   0395982723.
  3. Carothers JH (1986). "An experimental confirmation of morphological adaptation: toe fringes in the sand-dwelling lizard Uma scoparia". Evolution. 40 (4): 871–874. doi:10.2307/2408475. JSTOR   2408475. PMID   28556153.
  4. "Uma ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  5. Gottscho, Andrew D.; Wood, Dustin A.; Vandergast, Amy G.; Lemos-Espinal, Julio; Gatesy, John; Reeder, Tod W. (2017-01-01). "Lineage diversification of fringe-toed lizards (Phrynosomatidae: Uma notata complex) in the Colorado Desert: Delimiting species in the presence of gene flow". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 106: 103–117. Bibcode:2017MolPE.106..103G. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.09.008 . ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   27640953.