The Reptiles and Amphibians of Utah

Description: Brown, yellow-brown, gray, olive, or orange base color with small dark brown or black speckling across the body and tail. The head has large plate-like scales, whereas the body has small granular scales, The scales on the tail and underside are rectangular. The eyes lack eyelids and the pupils are vertical. 

This population of night lizards was once considered its own subspecies. Although it is currently considered to be a disjunct population of Desert Night Lizard, it has been elected to be recognized on this site. 

Size: A small-sized lizard averaging 2 to 3 inches in length. 

Range and Habitat: This lizard occurs along the Southern Colorado Plateau northward along the Colorado River to the foothills of the Henry Mountains and east toward the town of Bluff. It inhabits desertscrub, rocky slopes, juniper-pinyon woodlands, and semiarid benchlands. It is typically found between sandstone slabs, in packrat nests, and under dead yuccas and other types of dear or decaying debris piles. 

Similar Species: This distinctive lizard is not easily confused with any other species in Utah.