Kingdom Animalia Suborder Iguania Genus Holbrookia Higher classification Holbrookia maculata Order Scaled reptiles | Subphylum Vertebrata Family Phrynosomatidae Phylum Chordata Rank Subspecies | |
Scientific name Holbrookia maculata approximans Similar Holbrookia, Holbrookia maculata, Scaled reptiles, Holbrookia lacerata, Holbrookia propinqua | ||
The speckled earless lizard (Holbrookia maculata approximans) is a subspecies of the lesser earless lizard (Holbrookia maculata), which is found in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is sometimes referred to as the western earless lizard.
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Description
The speckled earless lizard is an overall gray-brown in color, with black and white speckling all along its back, with a solid gray-brown underside. It has distinct black and white bars immediately preceding the hind legs. Males tend to have a blue coloration to the white bars, whereas females do not. Like all species of earless lizards, it has no external ear openings.
Behavior
Like all species of earless lizards, the speckled earless lizard is diurnal and insectivorous. They prefer sandy, grassland habitats with sparse vegetation. They tend to be a nervous, wary species that flees quickly if approached.