| general
|
| description |
An active, large-headed,
squat-bodied lizard with a long, round tail and very long
hind legs. The neck is encircled by a pair of black collars
that do not meet at the nape. Males have a greenish body
with brown markings, and have conspicuous femoral pores.
Females and young are tan and brown. The tail is not capable
of regeneration. |
| distribution |
U.S.A.
(Kansas south to Texas and northern Mexico; Extreme western
Arkansas and relict populations in eastern Missouri) |
| adult
size |
8" - 14" |
| hatchling
size |
1.5" - 2" |
| subspecies |
collaris -- Eastern Collared
Lizard
baileyi -- Western Collared Lizard |
| predators |
Snakes, larger lizards,
birds |
| housing |
| natural
habitats |
Terrestrial; Rocky hillsides,
canyons, mountain slopes, and boulder strewn areas |
| cage
|
Cage needs not to be very
tall since it does not climb much. (e.g. Wooden
Terrarium, Glass
Terrarium) Inside it should be various sizes of rocks.
Project the basking spot upon a rock is preferable. |
| substrate |
gravel, fine sand (e.g.
Repti sand, Calci-Sand) |
| activity
period |
Daytime (diurnal);
12 - 14 hours each day with direct natural sunlight or
UV lamp (e.g. ReptiSun 5.0,
UV Heat Bulb) |
| temperature |
38 - 43 ¢XC -- basking
spot (e.g. Basking
Spot Lamp)
29 - 35 ¢XC -- cooler area (e.g. Daylight
Blue Bulb)
18 - 24 ¢XC -- at night (e.g. Nightlight
Red Bulb, Infrared
Heat Lamp, Ceramic
Heat Emitter) |
| humidity |
30 - 40 % |
| water
dish |
Optional. a small water
dish (e.g. Rock water
dish) can be left in the cage sometimes but not all
the time |
| hiding
place |
Optional. Possibllites
include caves (e.g. Habba
Hut, Heat Cave), etc |
| diet |
| wild
diet |
Carnivorous (meat-eating);
large arthropods (e.g. insects, worms, spiders), small
lizards and snakes |
| captive
diet |
various large insects
and worms |
| how
often to feed? |
Every day for hatchlings;
4 - 5 times a week for juveniles;
3 - 4 times a week for adults |
| reproduction |
| reproduction
|
Oviparous |
| eggs |
lays 4 - 6 large and rounded
eggs in 1 -2 clutches per year, incubation period is generally
52-95 days |
