COLLARED LIZARD
Crotaphytus collaris, C. reticulatus, C. bicinctores
Origin: Central North America to Mexico.
Family:

This medium-large sized lizard can achieve a total length of 35cm. This species has a stout body, with a large broad head. Its legs are large and powerful enabling it to flee when threatened, running rapidly on its hind legs for fairly long distances. Its powerful hind legs also make it a good jumper. Its markings are highly variable and are temperature dependent. The females are more dully coloured being grey/peach, with white speckling. The males are stunning colours for green-turquoise, and yellow. Both sexes have a collar of black bands around the neck with white inter-space. Its scales are very small giving it a smooth feel.

In its native environment this lizard can be found on rocky out crops and gorges in the Texas-Mexican desert.

In captivity the collared lizard requires a spacious cage, the bigger the better, as mentioned this species has powerful hind legs and in a small environment will quickly damage itself. The substrate should be sand, rock basking platforms should be placed at the back of the cage built up to form crevices for rest making sure these are secure as collard lizards can also dig well. Collard lizards require hot temperature and can withstand temperatures of 45°C. The daytime temeparature should be between 37°C and 39°C. A well-defined night drop of 5 or more degrees is required. Due to its desert environment a strong (5.0 – 8.0) UV emitting lamp must be used for a period of 8-10 hours a day. Male collared lizards are highly territorial and two males should never be housed together.