Common collared lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common collared lizard |
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| Collared lizard in Albuquerque, New Mexico | |
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Crotaphytus
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| Crotaphytus collaris |
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The common collared lizard is a cool reptile found in North America. It's also called the Oklahoma lizard because it's the official state lizard of Oklahoma! These lizards can grow to be about 30 centimeters (one foot) long, including their tail. They have a big head and strong jaws.
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Meet the Collared Lizard
The common collared lizard, scientifically known as Crotaphytus collaris, is a fascinating creature. It gets its name from the two dark bands around its neck, which look a bit like a collar. These lizards are known for their bright colors, which can include shades of green, blue, yellow, and brown. Their colors help them blend in with their surroundings.
Where Do Collared Lizards Live?
These lizards love warm, dry places. You can find them in the southwestern and central parts of the United States and northern Mexico. They often live in rocky areas, deserts, and grasslands. They like places with lots of rocks where they can hide and bask in the sun.
What Do Collared Lizards Eat?
Collared lizards are mostly carnivores, which means they eat other animals. Their favorite foods include insects like grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. They also eat spiders and sometimes even smaller lizards. Their strong jaws help them catch and eat their prey.
How Do Collared Lizards Behave?
Collared lizards are very fast! When they need to escape danger, they can run on their two back legs, almost like a tiny dinosaur. This helps them move quickly across open ground. They are also very good at climbing rocks and can jump surprisingly far. They are active during the day, especially when the sun is out.
Life Cycle of the Collared Lizard
Female collared lizards lay eggs, usually in the spring or early summer. They dig a small nest in the soil to keep their eggs safe. After a few months, the baby lizards hatch from the eggs. These young lizards are tiny versions of their parents and start hunting for small insects right away. They grow bigger over time, eventually becoming adult lizards.
Images for kids
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A Male Common Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) near Hatch Point in Utah
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Eastern collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris melanomaculatus), sub-adult photographed in situ, municipality of Miquihuana, Tamaulipas, Mexico (19 September 2007)
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Male collared lizard, with blue-green body and yellow-brown head, at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, Oklahoma
Learn More
In Spanish: Lagarto de collar para niños
