Introduction
to Leopard Lizard
The Leopard Lizard is one of
the most unusual in terms of the colors on it. The pattern of spots on it that
are similar in colour and design to those of the Leopard are where the name
comes from. This delightful Lizard is also the feature of may forms of
mythological stories that bring both man and reptiles together.
Leopard
Lizard Description
The body of the Leopard Lizard
is very long and drawn out. They lie very flat to the ground with appendages
that span out very similar to the alligator which is also a reptile that is
distantly related. The tail is extremely long and very thin. The spots cover
the tail as well as the rest of the body.
Class
|
Sauropsida
|
Order
|
Squamata
|
Suborder
|
Iguania
|
Family
|
Crotaphytidae
|
Genus
|
Gambelia
|
Conservation
|
Least Concern
|
Leopard Lizard Distribution
There is quite a diverse habitat out
there for the Leopard Lizard. They live in many areas around the United States
and throughout the Northern part of Mexico. They are also found around Baja
Peninsula, the Pacific Islands, and through the Gulf of California. They are
also dominate in various deserts including the Mojave, Great Basin, Chihuahuan,
and Sonoran.
They have a diverse habitat that
they live in along all of these areas. Some of them live in the very hot areas,
thus the deserts.
They may live around sea level or up to 6,000 feet above it. It is believed
that the Saltan Sea in California draws the Leopard Lizard to that region.
Leopard Lizard Behavior
Leopard Lizards are very alert,
curious, and intelligent. They tend to spend time investigating their
surroundings. They spend a great deal of time lying in ambush to find food.
Even when they aren’t hungry they seem to thrive on the ability to readily
capture and kill. It is believed that they have a very strong instinct to be
dominate in their habitat but that it isn’t limited to only their own species.
They don’t want to share that environment with any other living things.
Leopard
Lizard Feeding
This Lizard is a very skilled
predator. It is able to move quickly, to pounce on prey, and to do all it can
to survive. They like wide open areas where they can enjoy the thrill of
chasing their prey. This Lizard is very fast even though their physical
appearance often gives the impression that isn’t the case.
Their diet includes crickets, mice,
mealworms, beetles, flies, bees, termites, and grasshoppers. There are studies
that show when food supplies are short the Leopard Lizard will resort to
cannibalism. Typically they will eat the young that are not as strong as they
are. However, they will also try to kill others their side to feed on and to
make sure that they eliminate threats to their own territory.
Leopard
Lizard Reproduction
The Leopard Lizard is isolated most
of the time other than when they are ready to mate. The time of year for mating
varies based on the location where they live. The males will fight aggressively
with each other in order to be more attractive to the females that they want to
mate with.
The process is that once mating is
done the two separate and the male heads off to find another female for mating.
The females have to find a safe location for the eggs to be deposited. Those
eggs will arrive in 2 – 4 weeks. She has to find a place where they will be
warm and where they will be able to avoid predators finding them.
The female has no other
responsibility for her eggs once she places them in a nest. She doesn’t stay to
protect them or to see if they survive. The young emerge in about 2 months and
care for their own needs. Each clutch of eggs can have from 5 to 6 in it.
For More Details Click Here
For More Details Click Here
The Leopard Lizard Is Also Petted –Their Price Ranges From
100 $ To 700$
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