Granite night lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Granite night lizard |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Xantusia
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| Species: |
henshawi
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The granite night lizard (Xantusia henshawi) is a special type of lizard. It belongs to a group called night lizards. This lizard lives only in certain parts of North America.
What's in a Name?
The second part of its scientific name, henshawi, honors an American naturalist. His name was Henry Wetherbee Henshaw. So, the lizard is named after him!
Where Do They Live?
You can find the granite night lizard in two main places. It lives in Mexico, specifically in the state of Baja California. It also lives in the United States, in southern California. These areas are next to each other.
What Do They Look Like?
The granite night lizard has a flat body. It also has a wide, flat head. Its skin feels soft to the touch.
This lizard has dark, round spots on its back. These spots are on a light yellow or cream background. The scales on its back are tiny and bumpy. But the scales on its belly are big and square-shaped.
Granite night lizards have large eyes. Their pupils are shaped like a thin line, not round. They also do not have eyelids. This means they can't blink!
Home and Habits
Granite night lizards often live on rocky hillsides. They like places with big, peeling rocks. These rocks create lots of small cracks and hiding spots. Sometimes, they are also found in areas with coastal sage scrub or chaparral plants. These areas might not have many big rocks.
During the day, these lizards hide in rock cracks. They are active inside these safe spots. But when night comes, they come out. They move around on the surface after dark.
