Archives of The Cold Blooded News

The Newsletter of the Colorado Herpetological Society

Volume 31, Number 4;   April, 2004

Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wislizenii wislizenii)

by David Phillips

One of the larger lizards (about 16 inches in length) in San Diego County, this speedy desert dweller is generally found in flat areas having loose sandy or gravelly soil and sparse vegetation with ample running space. The Leopard Lizard characteristically flattens itself after running, and the spotted pattern usually blends so well with the ground that the lizard is difficult to see. Spots vary in size and shape depending on temperature and activity. When the lizard is cool, the gray coloring is darker. If seen from a distance, it is easy to mistake the Leopard Lizard in its light color phase for a Desert Iguana. Up close the differences become obvious. While similar in size, the dark spots encircled by white dots and long nose of the Leopard Lizard are quite distinctive.

Seldom far from its burrow, this ambush predator will wait comfortably in the shade of a bush for a victim to cross its path of vision. Although content to wait for his food to come to him, he becomes quite aggressive once food is sighted. A Leopard Lizard will chase down its prey and has been known to leap as high as two feet off the ground to catch a flying insect in midair. While these lizards eat both crawling and flying insects, they prefer to dine on other lizards; not just small lizards, but any lizard smaller than themselves, including their own kind.

In captivity, it is possible to convert them to eating pinky mice. However, it helps to supplement their diet with calcium, since "pinkies" don't have well developed bones. This is easily accomplished by dusting (Shake & Bake style) crickets with a powdered calcium and vitamin mixtures.

Mating generally occurs in early May. The females develop salmon streaks along the sides with some salmon coloration over the stomach and under the tail late in the development of the eggs. Approximately 4 weeks after mating, 2 to 4 (occasionally as many as 7) eggs will be laid. The eggs take about 35 days to hatch. Sometimes, a second clutch will be laid in August. The hatchlings are about 5 inches in length and look like miniatures of the adults.

A word of warning to the would-be collector, these beasties bite and have the jaws to make it a meaningful experience. This is the only variety of lizard in San Diego County that has ever bitten me right through a cloth sack. Once attached to a finger, they are reluctant to let go.

A sub-species, the Copes Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wislizenii copeii), also occurs in San Diego County. Found in the southernmost areas of the county from Jacuuiba to Portero, it is not abundant in any of its range.