Holbrookia maculata Girard, 1851

Taxonomy and Naming

Holbrookia maculata (common name: spotted lesser earless lizard, first described by Girard in 1851) is a small species of lizard.

Size

Adult individuals reach a total length of 4–5 inches (10–13 cm) when measured including the tail.

Dorsal Scales and Ear Structure

Its dorsal scales are granular and smooth, and it has no external ear openings.

Throat Morphology

Two folds cross the throat.

Breeding Season Female Coloration

During the breeding season, females have an orange-colored throat.

Tail Underside Markings

The underside of the tail has no dark spots.

Geographic Distribution

H. maculata is distributed across the United States and Mexico: in the U.S., it occurs in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming; in Mexico, it is found in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Zacateca.

Preferred Habitats

Its preferred natural habitats are shrubland, grassland, and desert.

Reproduction and Diet

This lizard is oviparous, and preys on insects and spiders.