Collared Lizard Care & Natural History

[findi]

Hi All,
[FONT=&quot]The 8-14 inch-long Collared Lizard, Crotaphytus collaris, is one of North America’s most colorful reptiles. Alert and active by day, Collared Lizards housed in planted desert terrariums make for stunning displays. They also possess distinct personalities, accept gentle handling, and, being relatively easy to breed, are now available in a variety of interesting color phases and patterns. The following information can also be applied to the related but less-commonly kept Leopard Lizard, Gambelia spp.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Nine species of Collared Lizard have been described. In the pet trade, the name “Collared Lizard” is most frequently applied to Crotaphytus collaris. Five subspecies of Crotaphytus collaris range from the central and southwestern USA to central Mexico. The Eastern Collared Lizard, Crotaphytus c. collaris, is the subspecies most commonly kept in captivity. Its range extends from southern Missouri through northern Arkansas and southwest to central Texas. Different Collared Lizard species hybridize in captivity and the wild.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The related Leopard Lizards (3 species, please see photo) have been reassigned to the genus Gambelia. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Collared Lizards are usually found in rocky deserts, overgrown thorn-scrub and other arid habitats. [/FONT]Read more here http://bit.ly/XlbCeR
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj.

Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp
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[andreajo]

Collared lizards! they are so feisty and grand. I used to find them when I was a kid in western Colorado, and sometimes bring them caterpillars from the garden. One particular male could regularly be found on his particular rock, and I would bring him caterpillars. He eventually ate one from my hand, and for a 10 year-old girl, that was pretty cool. The checkered whiptails used to climb up into the tomato plants and eat the caterpillars right off the plants. They'd shake them like a terrier shakes a toy (or sock, or rat). Oh, good memories!

 

[findi]

Collared lizards! they are so feisty and grand. I used to find them when I was a kid in western Colorado, and sometimes bring them caterpillars from the garden. One particular male could regularly be found on his particular rock, and I would bring him caterpillars. He eventually ate one from my hand, and for a 10 year-old girl, that was pretty cool. The checkered whiptails used to climb up into the tomato plants and eat the caterpillars right off the plants. They'd shake them like a terrier shakes a toy (or sock, or rat). Oh, good memories!

Wow, how nice to have grown up around them! I've only seen them a few times in the wild, and was impressed at how much more robust they appeared than did zoo specimens (not common in private collections back then); great creatures indeed, thanks for the smile, Frank

 

[Deac77]

Love this species!! We have them all Over and I love to watch them. They are awesome in captivity if you provide the right home