Keeled earless lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keeled earless lizard |
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| Scientific classification |
The keeled earless lizard (scientific name: Holbrookia propinqua) is a special kind of lizard. It belongs to a group of lizards called phrynosomatids. This lizard is known for having tiny, pointed scales on its back that feel a bit rough. It also doesn't have outside ears, which is why it's called "earless"!
Description
These lizards have unique scales. The scales on their back are small, pointed, and have a ridge. This ridge is called a "keel," which gives the lizard its common name. The scales on its sides are similar but even smaller. On its belly, the scales are flat and smooth. They are also much bigger than the scales on its back.
Adult keeled earless lizards can grow to about 62 mm (2+1⁄2 in) long from their snout to the base of their tail. Their total length, including the tail, can reach about 140 mm (5+1⁄2 in).
Where They Live: Geographic Range and Habitat
The keeled earless lizard lives in a specific area called the Tamaulipan mezquital ecoregion. You can find it in various places in South Texas. These include mixed oak forests, mesquite brush-lands, and open fields. They also live in coastal prairies and grasslands.
However, they always prefer areas with sandy soil. This includes places where ancient sand deposits are found. They are most common in the loose, shifting sands of beaches and barrier islands. You can also find them in the Coastal Sand Plain of Southern Texas.
These lizards also live in northeastern Mexico. There, they stick to the narrow sandy zones of coastal beaches and peninsulas. They can be found as far south as the city of Veracruz.
Subspecies
A subspecies is a group of animals within a species that has slight differences. There are three recognized subspecies of the keeled earless lizard:
- northern keeled earless lizard, Holbrookia propinqua propinqua Baird & Girard, 1852
- southern keeled earless lizard, Holbrookia propinqua piperata H.M. Smith & Burger, 1950
- Stone's keeled earless lizard, Holbrookia propinqua stonei Harper, 1932
