Uma notata Baird, 1858

Nomenclature and Classification

The Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard, scientifically named Uma notata Baird, 1858, is a medium-sized, diurnal lizard species in the family Phrynosomatidae.

Climate Adaptation and General Distribution

It is adapted to arid climates, and is most commonly found in sand dunes within the Colorado Desert of the United States and Mexico.

Original Species Description

Baird originally described the species in 1859, noting its head makes up two-fifths of the total length of its head and body, its dorsal coloration is light pea-green spotted with darker green, and it has a white underside.

Species Distinguishing Features

It can be told apart from the Mojave fringe-toed lizard and the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard by the orange to pinkish stripes on the sides of its underside, while the dorsal appearance of these species is very similar.

Subspecies Taxonomy

The taxonomy of the former subspecies Uma notata rufopunctata has long been unsettled; a 2016 study found it actually represents a hybrid between Uma notata and Uma cowlesi.

Specific Habitat Range

Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizards occupy the extensive windblown sand deposits of the Algodones Dunes in Imperial County, California, which extend across the border into Sonora, Mexico.