Holbrookia subcaudalis

Holbrookia subcaudalis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Phrynosomatidae
Genus:	Holbrookia
Species:	H. subcaudalis
Binomial name
	Holbrookia subcaudalis; Axtell, 1956
Synonyms
	Holbrookia subcaudalis; — Ernest A. Liner, 1994;

Holbrookia subcaudalis, commonly known as the southern spot-tailed earless lizard, is a species of lizard in the genus Holbrookia. It was previously considered a subspecies of Holbrookia lacerata.

Geographic range

It is found in northern Mexico and the United States in southern Texas.

Description

The southern spot-tailed earless lizard is overall light grayish tan in color, with two paravertebral rows of transverse light-edged dark blotches, one row down either side of the back and a second lateral row of dark, pale-edged blotches that are usually not connected to the paravertebral blotches. Adults are 11.5–15.4 cm (4.5–6.1 in) in total length. They have round, dark spots on the ventral surface of the

gravid

, females will often turn greenish yellow on neck and trunk.

Behavior

As with all earless lizards, the southern spot-tailed earless lizard is

diurnal and insectivorous

.

Habitat

Their preferred

habitat is subhumid agricultural and nonagricultural flatlands and very low rolling hills with sparse vegetation such as small patches of grass on dark clay loam soils, with a few mesquite trees mesquite

, but not prickly pear cactus.