#desert reptiles

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Taking Note of the New Mexico Whiptail

The New Mexico Whiptail (Aspidoscelis neomexicanus) is the state lizard of New Mexico in the United States of America, and for good reason. These beautifully patterned lizards are incredibly unique because the entire species is female, and they reproduce via parthenogenesis.

Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction in which in embryos develop without sperm. It’s found in plants, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and several bird species. Offspring are full clones of their mother. New Mexico whiptails can also be produced as a cross of western whiptails and little striped whiptails. All reproduction occurs during the summer. To produce eggs asexually, female New Mexico whiptails engage in mating behavior with each other, in which one female will lay on top of each other. Afterwards, a female will lay up to four eggs. The eggs hatch two months later, fully formed and independent.

New Mexico whiptails can be distinguished from other lizard species by the seven yellow stripes along their back and their dotted sides. Individuals can be anywhere from 6.5 to 23 cm, with a tail about as long as their body that is a distinct blue-green during the juvenile stage.

Outside mating, A. neomexicanus is a solitary lizard. They spend most of the day hiding from predators, thermoregulating, or foraging for food. They feed on insects, and are often seen digging in the dirt. If threatened, New Mexico Whiptails can move extremely quickly, even running on their hind legs to escape. Common predators include hawks, road runners, owls, and desert foxes. During the winter, these lizards will burrow into the ground and hibernate.

Conservation status: The IUCN lists the New Mexico whiptail as Least Concern. The lizard is protected as New Mexico’s state reptile, and populations are stable. Their primary threat is habitat loss.

[amnhnyc]

Have you ever heard of the sandfish (Scincus scincus)? It's a species of skink known for “swimming” in the desert sands of northern Africa and southwestern Asia.🦎🏜 The majority of its time is spent beneath the surface, where it swiftly navigates through grains of sand with its streamlined body. Staying under the sand is advantageous for a variety of reasons. It helps the skink stay hidden from predators while ambushing prey, like crickets—and shields it from the hot desert sun. Photo: Alexandre Roux, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, flickr #AnimalFacts #sandfish #skink #reptiles #NaturalHistory #desert https://www.instagram.com/p/CaFF_ccL_Hl/?utm_medium=tumblr

[taysanimaladventures]

Day 1 at Joshua Tree and immediately found the Best Boy right in front of the visitor's center

[psikonauti]

Desert Horned Viper (Cerastes cerastes)

[typhlonectes]

The Gila monster is the only venomous lizard native to the United States. 

Should they be threatened by a predator, their jaws clamp shut and venom flows from the lower jaw through their teeth. As always, we encourage people to keep a safe distance from wildlife, safe for us and safe for them! Photograph by Jeff Servos/USFWS

via: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

[antiqueanimals]

About Reptiles: A Guide for Children, written by Cathryn Sill and illustrated by John Sill, 1999.

[miskiart]

Shirt-only post because tumblr hides long posts now sorry aaaaaaa

SHIRT’S UP, COWBOY

This is up ~today only~ so make sure you snag it before tomorrow night   if you want it. Also note that you gotta click on a garment style before you can pick a size, it isn’t sold out.

GET IT HERE

[mostignored]

California Desert Tortoise enjoying some watermelon.

[textless]

[lycantherous]

Nelson is enjoying his new tubes!

[ossian94]

Night Lizard

The background was quite a chore to make as I didn't had any good idea for it. Despite this I'm happy how it turned out.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Admiring the Ornate Tree Lizard

The ornate tree lizard, or more commonly, simply the tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) is a species of lizard commonly found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. True to their name, they live primarily in riparian or dry forest areas, although they can also be found in scrubland, deserts, and urban areas. Tree lizards can be highly territorial, and an area can consist of a dominant male and several lesser males. Females have their own, individual territories that do not over lap. Despite their small size, barely two inches long, tree lizards can defend large territories, sometimes up to 250 square feet.

Tree lizards spend a majority of their time competing with other males, thermoregulating, or hunting. They are ambush predators, preferring to wait motionless for unsuspecting insects and arachnids to wander into their range. Their ability to remain still, combined with their dull mottled backs, also makes for excellent camouflage against larger predators like birds and snakes. The bright undersides of tree lizards, on the other hand, serve a very different purpose: mating.

In males, the coloration of the belly and throat patch (also known as the dewlap) are an important part of male mating competitions. They can signal age, health, and aggressiveness when flashed at another male in a four-legged pushup characteristic of initiating fights. Similarly, when females are carrying eggs, their dewlaps and underbellies can turn orange or red. After laying a clutch of up to thirteen eggs, typically under a rock or in a previously-dug hole, the female’s coloration fades. A month later, juvenile tree lizards hatch, already ready to survive independently.

Conservation status: Not threatened. Due to their wide range and adabtability, the ornate tree lizard population is large and quite stable. Future threats may include climate change and habitat destruction.

[coilcreature]

[bakiegaming]

Bakie's The Sims 4 Custom Content:  Animated - Placeable Reptiles - Desert Snake + Lizard

In this Series I will show you all the Custom Content I made for The Sims 4. I will show you where to find it in game, how it looks, but also some tips and tricks on using this item in game.

- -Animated - Placeable Reptiles - Desert Snake + Lizard- - To help make your desert lots to feel more realistic, I give you the desert snake and lizard from Strangerville.

For more info, some nice example scenes and the download link, take a look at the video + description!

>>>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO + DOWNLOAD <<<<

For more videos from this Bakie’s The Sims 4 Custom Content Series, click the Bakie’s CC link in the Side bar or take a look at my Bakie's The Sims 4 Custom Content Series on YouTube.

>>> If you want to support my work, take a look at my Patreon page <<<

[kirstielol]

My new bioactive tank is done! This replicates a forest/shrubland biome for a corn snake I plan on getting soon! I'm so happy with how it turned out! ☺️🌳🐍

[typhlonectes]

USFWS Decides Desert Tortoise Does Not Require “Endangered” Status

Conservation update for Sonoran desert tortoise, and how you can help!  

Based on the best available science, this beloved Southwestern reptile doesn’t warrant Endangered Species Act protection: 

http://ow.ly/aGNX50HOuJ9 Our review of current and future threats found the Sonoran desert tortoise isn’t at risk of extinction in the foreseeable future. The tortoise and its habitat have benefitted from ongoing conservation and land management efforts by federal, state, and county partners that initiated best management practices and conservation commitments. Continued threats include drought (climate change) and human-turtle interactions. Want to help? Let’s all keep wildlife wild.  Collecting Sonoran desert tortoises from the wild in the U.S. is prohibited. Always respectfully observe Sonoran desert tortoises – and all wildlife – from a safe distance for your safety and theirs. Do you live in Arizona? Arizona residents can contact Arizona Fish & Game Department about adopting surplus Sonoran desert tortoises resulting from unplanned or unmanaged captive tortoise breeding in the private sector: 

http://ow.ly/xZZV50HOuJ8 

These tortoises cannot be released into the wild. photograph: Jeff Humphrey/USFWS

via: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service