Eastern Collared Lizard
A strikingly colored lizard that can be found basking on boulders in areas with hardpacked soil.
About This Species
The collared lizard gets its name from its distinct coloration around its neck and shoulders that look like a collar. While males are more brightly colored with stunning turquoise and yellow scales, the females develop bright reddish orange spots during breeding season.
More Information:
Physical Characteristics
Head large, sometimes bright yellow; tail long; two areas of coloration resembling incomplete black collars around narrow neck; upper side with smooth, granular scales, turquoise to greenish to brown with numerous small light spots in adult; toes of adults yellow in western Colorado; lining of pharynx usually black; total length up to about 36 cm (14 inches).
Mature Male
Two bulges (from hemipenes) may be evident at base of tail; throat with dark spots or circles (most evident in western Colorado), or throat yellow to orange (southeastern Colorado); head especially large.
Mature Female
Orange-red bars or spots on sides of body and neck during breeding season; throat unmarked or faintly spotted.
Juvenile
Upper side with wide dark bands or rows of large dark spots separated by narrow light lines, sometimes with red/orange spots on neck and sides of chest.
Hatchling
Snout-vent length often about 40 mm (1.6 inches).
Range
Southeastern Colorado, mainly south of the Arkansas River; southwestern and west-central Colorado, south of Rio Blanco County. Locally fairly common.
Habitat
Rocky canyons, slopes, and gullies; rocky ledges above cliffs; exposures of bedrock; and areas with scattered large rocks and sparse vegetation, and sometimes nearby in rockless gullies, flat canyon bottoms, and mesa tops where soils are firm. Often in areas with pinyon pine, juniper, sagebrush, rabbitbrush, greasewood, scrub oak, other shrubs, or sparse nonwoody plants. Often basks on boulders.
Reproduction
Females lay eggs in late spring or early summer. Hatchlings first appear in August.