What do you feed a side-blotched lizard?
What do you feed a side-blotched lizard?
Side-blotched lizards eat a wide variety of insects and other arthropods. Little time is spent foraging. Lizards feed opportunistically on any moving insect of suitable size that passes nearby as they bask or move about their home range. Food also includes scorpions, spiders, mites, ticks and sow bugs.
Do side-blotched lizards make good pets?
The side-blotched lizard is such a prolific breeder, however, that it is not on any endangered list. Although side-blotched lizards are very territorial, they are easy to care for as pets.
What are the common side-blotched lizards competing for?
Male side-blotched lizards compete for mates using a competitive strategy that resembles a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors. Males have orange, yellow, or blue throats. When competing for a female, orange beats blue, blue beats yellow, and yellow beats orange.
How can you tell if a side-blotched lizard is male or female?
Systematics
- A distinguishing feature of this species is the dark blotch behind the front leg.
- The male (pictured) is more brightly colored than the female and is usually distinguished by the presence of blue spots on its back, especially near the base of the tail.
- Common side-blotched lizards mating.
When to see side blotched lizards in Utah?
Side-blotched lizards may be seen as early as March and as late as November. Both males and females perform push-up displays when confronted. A side-blotched lizard sunning, Cross Canyon, Utah- Colorado border.
What does the side blotch on a lizard mean?
The “side blotch” – a dark mark on the sides behind the front legs – gives this species its common name. The Side-blotched Lizards, genus Uta, have small keeled spineless scales on the back. Patternless adult, San Joaquin County.
Where does the northern side blotched lizard live?
Some experts do not recognize any subspecies of Uta stansburiana pending further studies that will provide more clarification about this species (which may consist of several different species). U. s. stansburiana – Northern Side-blotched Lizard, which is shown to range east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Inyo and Mono counties.
When do side blotched lizards lose their tails?
Side-blotched lizards will readily lose their tails. Hammerson notes that many adults have missing or regenerating tails. Sexual dimorphism is present, with males being larger in size. Side-blotched lizards may be seen as early as March and as late as November. Both males and females perform push-up displays when confronted.