Fringe-toed lizards are lizards of the
genus ''Uma'' in the family
Phrynosomatidae, 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 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 and southwest Arizona, 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.[
]
Habitat
Lizards of the genus ''Uma'' are found in low desert areas having fine, loose sand.
Diet
Fringe-toed lizards primarily eat insects, including ants, beetles, 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 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, ''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, 1895
* Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard, '' Uma notata'' Baird
Baird may refer to:
Places United States
* Baird, Mississippi, an unincorporated community
* Baird, Missouri, an unincorporated community
* Baird, Texas, a city
* Baird, Washington, a community
* Baird Mountains, Alaska
* Baird Inlet, Alaska
...
, 1858
* Mohawk Dunes fringe-toed lizard, '' Uma thurmanae'' Derycke, Gottscho, Mulcahy, & De Queiroz, 2020
*Mojave fringe-toed lizard
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 Mojav ...
, '' Uma scoparia'' Cope, 1894
* Yuman Desert fringe-toed lizard, '' Uma cowlesi'' Heifetz, 1941
* Chihuahuan fringe-toed lizard, '' Uma paraphygas'' K.L. Williams, Chrapliwy & H.M. Smith, 1959
* Fringe-toed sand lizard, '' Uma exsul'' Schmidt & 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 between ''U. notata'' and ''U. cowlesi''.
See also
*''Meroles
''Meroles'' is a genus of lizards, commonly known as desert lizards, in the family Lacertidae. The genus contains eight species, inhabiting southwestern Africa, especially the Namib Desert.
Description
Desert lizards have fine, granular dorsal ...
'', a genus of African lizards with morphological and ecological similarities
* Xerocoles, 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