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Fringe-toed lizards are lizards of the
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''Uma'' in the family
Phrynosomatidae The Phrynosomatidae are a diverse family of lizards, sometimes classified as a subfamily (Phrynosomatinae), found from Panama to the extreme south of Canada. Many members of the group are adapted to life in hot, sandy deserts, although the spiny ...
, native to
desert A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About on ...
s of North America. They are adapted for life in sandy deserts with fringe-like scales on their hind toes hence their common name.


Descriptions

Lizards of the genus ''Uma'' have a brown and tan coloration that helps them to blend in with the sand. The dorsal surface has a velvety texture with intricate markings. In addition, they also have prominent elongated
scales Scale or scales may refer to: Mathematics * Scale (descriptive set theory), an object defined on a set of points * Scale (ratio), the ratio of a linear dimension of a model to the corresponding dimension of the original * Scale factor, a number w ...
which form a fringe on the sides of their hind toes. These fringes aid with traction and speed, and help the lizard avoid sinking into loose, sandy dunes. Fringe-toed lizards also possess upper jaws which overlap the lower ones, preventing the intrusion of sand particles, and nostrils that can be closed at will. Flaps also close against the ear openings when moving through sand, and the upper and lower eyelids have interlocking scales that prevent sand from getting into the eyes.


Geographic range

Fringe-toed lizards range throughout southeast
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
and southwest
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
, and extend into northwest
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is d ...
and northeast
Baja California Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mex ...
.


Habitat

Lizards of the genus ''Uma'' are found in low desert areas having fine, loose sand.


Diet

Fringe-toed lizards primarily eat
insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs ...
s, including
ant Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of 22 ...
s,
beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...
s,
grasshopper Grasshoppers are a group of insects belonging to the suborder Caelifera. They are among what is possibly the most ancient living group of chewing herbivorous insects, dating back to the early Triassic around 250 million years ago. Grasshopp ...
s, and
caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...
s.
Flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
buds, stems, leaves and seeds of plants are also eaten.


Behavior

Lizards of the genus ''Uma'' bury themselves underground in the winter. They sleep in their burrows, and use their burrows for protection from predators and extreme temperatures.


Species

*
Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard (''Uma inornata'') is a species of Phrynosomatidae, phrynosomatid lizard. Phylogeny and evolution The species is most closely related to Uma notata, the Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard. Genetic variat ...
, ''
Uma inornata The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard (''Uma inornata'') is a species of phrynosomatid lizard. Phylogeny and evolution The species is most closely related to Uma notata, the Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard. Genetic variation within the ...
''
Cope The cope (known in Latin as ''pluviale'' 'rain coat' or ''cappa'' 'cape') is a liturgical vestment, more precisely a long mantle or cloak, open in front and fastened at the breast with a band or clasp. It may be of any liturgical colours, litu ...
, 1895 *
Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard The Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard (''Uma notata'') is a species of medium-sized, diurnal lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is adapted to arid climates and is most commonly found in sand dunes within the Colorado Desert of the United ...
, '' Uma notata'' Baird, 1858 * Mohawk Dunes fringe-toed lizard, '' Uma thurmanae'' Derycke, Gottscho, Mulcahy, & De Queiroz, 2020 * Mojave fringe-toed lizard, ''
Uma scoparia The Mojave fringe-toed lizard (''Uma scoparia'') is a species of medium-sized, white or grayish, black-spotted diurnal lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is adapted to arid climates and is most commonly found in sand dunes within the Moja ...
'' Cope, 1894 *
Yuman Desert fringe-toed lizard The Yuman Desert fringe-toed lizard (''Uma cowlesi'') is a species of phrynosomatid lizard endemic to northwestern Mexico, although a hybrid population of it and '' Uma notata'' ranges north to southwestern Arizona in the United States. Taxon ...
, ''
Uma cowlesi The Yuman Desert fringe-toed lizard (''Uma cowlesi'') is a species of Phrynosomatidae, phrynosomatid lizard Endemism, endemic to northwestern Mexico, although a Hybrid (biology), hybrid population of it and ''Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard, U ...
'' Heifetz, 1941 *
Chihuahuan fringe-toed lizard The Chihuahuan fringe-toed lizard (''Uma paraphygas'') is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign ...
, ''
Uma paraphygas The Chihuahuan fringe-toed lizard (''Uma paraphygas'') is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign ...
'' K.L. Williams, Chrapliwy & H.M. Smith, 1959 *
Fringe-toed sand lizard The fringe-toed sand lizard (''Uma exsul'') is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, c ...
, ''
Uma exsul The fringe-toed sand lizard (''Uma exsul'') is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is endemic to Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, c ...
''
Schmidt Schmidt may refer to: * Schmidt (surname), including list of people with the surname * Schmidt (singer) (born 1990), German pop and jazz singer * Schmidt (lunar crater), a small lunar impact crater * Schmidt (Martian crater), a List of craters on ...
& Bogert, 1947"''Uma'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. ''" Uma rufopunctata''", the previous name for the Yuman Desert fringe-toed lizard, was found in 2016 to represent a
hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
between ''U. notata'' and ''U. cowlesi''.


See also

*''
Meroles ''Meroles'' is a genus of lizards, commonly known as desert lizards, in the Family (biology), family Lacertidae. The genus contains eight species, inhabiting southwestern Africa, especially the Namib Desert. Description Desert lizards have fine, ...
'', a genus of African lizards with morphological and ecological similarities *
Xerocole A xerocole (), is a general term referring to any animal that is adapted to live in a desert. The main challenges xerocoles must overcome are lack of water and excessive heat. To conserve water they avoid evaporation and concentrate excretions (i ...
s, animals adapted to desert environments


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2427811 Uma Lizard genera Reptiles of Mexico Reptiles of the United States Fauna of the Colorado Desert Fauna of the Mojave Desert Fauna of the Sonoran Desert Endangered fauna of California Lizards of North America Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird