Eastern earless lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids prairie earless lizard |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Holbrookia |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
H. m. perspicua
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| Trinomial name | |
| Holbrookia maculata perspicua Axtell, 1956
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The prairie earless lizard (Holbrookia maculata perspicua), also known as the eastern earless lizard, is a fascinating reptile. It's a special type, or subspecies, of the lesser earless lizard. These small lizards are known for not having outside ear openings, which is how they get their name!
Contents
Where Do Prairie Earless Lizards Live?
A Home in the Prairies
The prairie earless lizard lives only in the central United States. You can find them in the wide, grassy areas called prairies. Their home stretches from South Dakota in the north all the way down to Texas in the south. This means they are endemic to this region, which means they are naturally found nowhere else in the world.
What Do Prairie Earless Lizards Look Like?
Colors and Patterns
These lizards are usually a gray-brown color. They have rows of dark spots along their backs, with a lighter stripe running down the middle. This helps them blend in with their surroundings.
Size and Special Features
Prairie earless lizards are quite small, growing to be about 4.5 to 6 inches long. That's about the length of a pencil! One of their most interesting features is that they don't have any visible ear openings, unlike many other lizards.
Spotting the Differences
It can be tricky to tell the prairie earless lizard apart from other types of lesser earless lizards, especially since they live in similar areas. However, male prairie earless lizards often have cool black and white markings near their back legs, which females usually don't have.
How Do Prairie Earless Lizards Behave?
Active During the Day
Like many lizards, the prairie earless lizard is diurnal. This means they are most active during the daytime. They love to soak up the sun's warmth by basking on rocks or other warm surfaces.
What's on the Menu?
These lizards are insectivorous, which means their favorite food is insects! They are skilled hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty bug. If you try to get too close, they are very quick and will dart away to safety in a flash.
