Colorado Herpetological Society's

Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Colorado

Lesser Earless Lizard
(Holbrookia maculata)

Family Phrynosomatidae

Last Updated on January 20, 2000.

Lesser Earless Lizard (Holbrookia maculata)
Description: 2" to 2½" snout-vent length; to 5 1/8" overall. Color brownish to gray, with rows of mottled pattern between lighter stripes or rows of dots (lighter stripes may be missing in individuals from southwestern Colorado). Two black bars on each side of ventral surface behind forelimbs. No external ear openings. Elevation Range: Up to 5300' in northeastern Colorado; to 6000' in southern Colorado. Subspecies in Colorado: Holbrookia maculata approximans in southwestern Colorado; Holbrookia maculata maculata in eastern Colorado.