California
Uma inornata  John H. Tashjian, California Academy of Sciences | |
| Type of Animal: | Reptiles |
|---|---|
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Iguanidae |
| Federal Status: | Threatened |
| State Status: | Endangered |
| Occurrence: | |
| Habitat: | Dunes,Creosote Scrub |
| Description: | Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizards live in desert habitats, and they are restricted to the Coachella Valley in Riverside County. They are active from spring to fall during the day. When not active, these lizards bury themselves about two inches below the sand for protection from the heat and predators. They may also use abandoned mammal burrows for protection. Most fringe-toed lizards in California eat a variety of animals and plants, but Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizards specialize in eating insects, spiders, and arthropods. Ants, beetles, grasshoppers, cockroaches, and caterpillars are some of the animals that these lizards prey upon. The breeding season begins in spring and lasts through summer. Females lay two to four eggs and bury them in the sand. Young are first seen in October. More young are produced in years with a significant amount of rainfall. Common predators of Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizards include falcons, roadrunners, snakes, badgers, and coyotes. When threatened, these run at high speeds on their hind legs and then plunge into the sand. |
| Effort: | "The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard population is threatened by habitat destruction. As the human population increases, the amount of suitable habitat for these lizards decreases. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) assists both the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in carrying out management plans for this species. The management plans, written by DFG and USFWS, concentrate on identifying, acquiring, and protecting habitat areas for Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizards." |
| References: | Behler et al. 1979. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians. Stebbins 1985. Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Second Edition. Zeiner et al. (editors). 1988. California’s Wildlife, Volume I, Amphibians and Reptiles. |
| Other Sites: | Fact sheet - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Field Office(s): | Palm Springs |