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Photo by William Bosworth
Photo Courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
Gambelia wislizenii
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): S3
External links
General information
The range of the long-nosed leopard lizard, Gambelia wislizenii, extends from Oregon and Idaho to southern Baja California and central Mexico. In Utah, the species occurs throughout much of the state, primarily in open desert and semi-desert areas that allow them to run. Long-nosed leopard lizards are mainly ground dwelling, but will occasionally climb into bushes. During cold times of the year, they seek refuge in burrows and become inactive.
Females lay one or two clutches of up to twelve eggs during late spring or summer. The number and size of clutches, as well as the timing of egg laying, vary with geographic location. Long-nosed leopard lizards eat insects, spiders, small rodents, lizards, and some plant material. The long-nosed leopard lizard is a relatively large lizard that can slightly alter its coloration for camouflage purposes.
Phenology
Not active in cold weather; active mainly May-August in north (Hammerson 1982), late March or early April through late August-late October in south (Mitchell 1984, McGuire 1996). Individuals active in late summer are mainly hatchlings.
Species range
The geographic range extends from Oregon, southern Idaho, Utah and western Colorado south through eastern and southern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas to northeastern Baja California and north-central mainland Mexico (including Isla Tiburon, Sonora, in the Gulf of California) (McGuire 1996, Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003).
Habitat
Habitat includes desert and semidesert areas with scattered shrubs or other low plants (e.g., creosotebush, sagebrush), especially areas with abundant rodent burrows (Nussbaum et al. 1983, Hammerson 1999, Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003). The species is basically ground dwelling, but sometimes individuals climb into bushes. When threatened, leopard lizards typically run to the base of a shrub and remain motionless there. When inactive, they occupy burrows Eggs are laid in burrows.
Food habits
Eats insects, spiders, lizards, small rodents, and some plant material (Stebbins 1985), especially LYCIUM fruits.
Ecology
Not territorial; often much overlap in home ranges. Tanner and Krogh (1974) recorded home range sizes of 0.67, 1.54, and 2.35 ha over periods of 2-3 years for three individuals in Nevada. There is some home range overlap, particularly between males and females. Territorial behavior apparently does not occur and, other than interactions associated with mating, adults appear to be rather oblivious of each other (McCoy 1967). Some individuals appear to be somewhat nomadic. In northern Utah, Parker and Pianka (1976) recorded long distance movements by juvenile males (up to 806 m over two weeks and 1,186 m over 20 months) whereas adult males moved 0-450 m (average 125 m) over periods of about 2-4 weeks. Population density in Nevada was about 5/ha (Tanner and Krogh 1974).
Reproductive characteristics
Lays clutch of 1-11 eggs (mean generally 5-7), mainly late May-early July in different areas; probably late May-late June or early July in southeastern Arizona. Second clutch may be laid in south. Eggs hatch in 5-7 weeks. Sexually mature in first or second year (Fitch 1970).
Threats or limiting factors
Major threats include habitat loss and degradation resulting from agricultural, commercial, and residential development and invasion of exotic herbaceous plants (e.g., cheatgrass) (Hammerson 1999).
References
- Biotics Database. 2005. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, NatureServe, and the network of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers.
- Stebbins, R. C. 1985. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 336 pp.
