Granite night lizard explained

The granite night lizard (Xantusia henshawi), also known commonly as Henshaw's night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. The species is endemic to North America.^[1]

Etymology

The specific name, henshawi, is in honor of American naturalist Henry Wetherbee Henshaw.^[2]

Geographic range

X. henshawi is found in Mexico in the Mexican state of Baja California, and also in the United States in adjacent southern California.^[1]

Description

X. henshawi is flat-bodied with a broad, flat head and a soft skin. It has rounded, dark dorsal spots on a pale yellow or cream background. Its scales are granular on its dorsum, but large and squarish on the ventral surface. This lizard has large eyes with vertical pupils, and it lacks eyelids.

Habitat and behavior

The granite night lizard is often found on rocky slopes with large exfoliating boulders and abundant crevices, but is occasionally found in coastal sage scrub and chaparral without boulders. It is active in crevices during the day, but moves on the surface at night.^[3]

Reproduction

X. henshawi is oviparous.^[1]

See also

• California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion

Further reading

• Lee JC (1976). "Xantusia henshawi Stejneger, Granite night lizard". Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (189): 1–2.
• Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. . (Xantusia henshawi, pp. 84–85).
• Stebbins RC (2003). A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series ®. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. 533 pp. . (Xantusia henshawi, p. 306 + Plate 35 + Map 77).
• Stejneger L (1893). "Diagnosis of a new California lizard". Proceedings of the United States National Museum 16: 467. (Xantusia henshawi, new species).

Notes and References

1. www.reptile-database.org.
2. [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]
3. [species:Robert N. Fisher|Fisher, Robert N.]