Rad Critters: Eastern Collared Lizard

If you look around, you are liable to run into all manner of critters.  Some of them are especially memorable.  While walking around the country, I have often caught a bit of movement out of the corner of my eye.  Sometimes they are colorful, others not.  Some will sit still, others you'll be lucky to get a camera lens on.  On one hike in Colorado, we chased one of the prettiest lizards that I have ever seen down the trail.  The Eastern Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) males are especially colorful.

These guys are pretty big, reaching lengths up to 14 inches.  They have a bright yellow head, with a black collar at the neck and blue body.  Known as a "mountain boomer" these animals make little in the way of noise, except for the occasional squeak.  When they are threatened they scurry away or may stand up on their hind legs and run.  I never could quite get a camera focused on one of these guys on a run.

Such big reptiles like to have a warm basking space (100 - 105 degrees F) and warm weather at other times (80 degrees F) for good digestion of their food.  They are found from Missouri west into the Rocky Mountains, south into Mexico and around the south tip of the Rockies into California.  They are mostly insectivores, but may eat some fruits and vegetables.

Getting There

You can find these guys across most of the southwestern US