Common Lesser Earless Lizard
Earless lizards spend most of their time in sandy environs, so a lack of ear openings preserves their hearing from being damaged by their habitat.
About This Species
This lizard is called "earless" because it does not have external ear openings, possibly to protect their ears from sand. The earless lizard has a unique defense mechanism: it has a "blood sinus", which is a small opening on the top of its head, which helps it heat quickly during the day. When the lizard is threatened, blood from the sinus can shoot from its eyes, giving it time to escape.
More Information:
Physical Characteristics
Upper side striped or speckled, with smooth granular scales; external ear openings absent; two black marks on each side of belly; total length up to about 13 cm (5.1 inches); adults average about 5 cm (2 inches) in snout-vent length.
Mature male
Two enlarged scales on underside of tail just behind vent; black, blue-edged bars on belly; may have yellowish wash on sides.
Mature female
Black bars on belly lack blue edge; reproductive females during the breeding season have yellow-orange on throat and on sides of head and neck and orange on sides of body
Range
Eastern Colorado and Montezuma County in western Colorado.
Habitat
Sandhills, plains grassland with a sparse cover of grass and low shrubs, prairie-dog towns, sandy or gravelly areas along streams, and other relatively flat areas with expanses of open ground. Uses rodent burrows for cover, or burrows into sand.
Reproduction
Females lay 1-2 clutches of eggs primarily in late May, June, and July. Hatchlings emerge as early as July or as late as September.