Mojave Desert Habitat

Desert Night Lizards (Xantusia vigilis vigilis) in habitat



-Dallas
Moderator: Scott Waters
Thank you ZachZach_Lim wrote:Beautiful shots of a wonderful lizard! Great post
Thanks for the input.klawnskale wrote:Xantusia are wonderful little lizards. They are a very interesting Genus and have certain physiological traits unique to them. They are one of the few lizard species which are actually viviparous (or as close to the mammalian definition as you can get). Their body actually develops an organ analogous to the mammalian placenta during gestation and truly "give birth" to live young.
I've had visitors from all over the world take my guided 'Mojave tour'... and invariable... the first thing they want to see is a night lizard...Bryan Hamilton wrote:I love me some Xantusia. Placental birth and true viviparity is pretty widespread in reptiles.
Really interesting perspectives and contributions from klawnsnake and hellihooks. Thanks for sharing.
^ That's awesome, I never knew that.klawnskale wrote:Xantusia are wonderful little lizards. They are a very interesting Genus and have certain physiological traits unique to them. They are one of the few lizard species which are actually viviparous (or as close to the mammalian definition as you can get). Their body actually develops an organ analogous to the mammalian placenta during gestation and truly "give birth" to live young.
Bryan, do you have other examples of squamates that have placental birth? I had thought it was pretty uncommon.Bryan Hamilton wrote:I love me some Xantusia. Placental birth and true viviparity is pretty widespread in reptiles.
Really interesting perspectives and contributions from klawnsnake and hellihooks. Thanks for sharing.
Actually yes. I had a friend who years ago collected some and kept a small group in a nice terrarium set up. One of the females was pregnant and gave birth to this ginormous neonate that was almost as large as her. I don't think you can collect them any longer in LA County. I think CDF&W changed the regs. But they do make cool captives to observe since they are social.DallasJolly123 wrote:Thanks again everyone, I had no clue how popular Night Lizards were among herpers! Personally they remind me of a micro sized Varanid... to a certain degree.
Have any of you seen a new born Xantusia? I would love to see how unbelievably small they are.
Awesome! I've heard they exhibit diurnal activities in captivity too, that does sound cool to observe.klawnskale wrote:Actually yes. I had a friend who years ago collected some and kept a small group in a nice terrarium set up. One of the females was pregnant and gave birth to this ginormous neonate that was almost as large as her. I don't think you can collect them any longer in LA County. I think CDF&W changed the regs. But they do make cool captives to observe since they are social.DallasJolly123 wrote:Thanks again everyone, I had no clue how popular Night Lizards were among herpers! Personally they remind me of a micro sized Varanid... to a certain degree.
Have any of you seen a new born Xantusia? I would love to see how unbelievably small they are.
I've just never seen a newborn personally yet, thanks for posting that. I gotta see one of those "snowy night" shots. I too can find them nearby and even in my yard. Hell I probably saw a dozen while out earlier today along with a pair of Anniella. My first lifer of 2016!
I just looked at a handful of papers and placental birth in squamates is apparently uncommon....Kyle from Carolina wrote:Bryan, do you have other examples of squamates that have placental birth? I had thought it was pretty uncommon.
henshawii is hands off, as well.regalringneck wrote: same thing w/ henshawii & vigilis ... good clean sps. the one i'd like to take a closer look at is riversiana; channel isla ... but i think theyre paws off : {
Yes... almost certainly SD/GB gopher X's there... I live in the same transitional zone further east, and see many intergrades. Along with night lizards I have side blotch, western fence, yellowback spinys, SAL and coast horned lizards in my backyard. and intergrade night snakes.. along with the gophers and red coaches that pass through.DallasJolly123 wrote:Im new to the area but I enjoy it.
I've found Mojaves and Southern Pacifics on the same roads in my area last year. I'm always hoping to see an unusual looking rattler but no such luck. I have seen a couple Gopher Snakes that looked like Great Basin/San Diego intergrades though.
hellihooks wrote:Yes... almost certainly SD/GB gopher X's there... I live in the same transitional zone further east, and see many intergrades. Along with night lizards I have side blotch, western fence, yellowback spinys, SAL and coast horned lizards in my backyard. and intergrade night snakes.. along with the gophers and red coaches that pass through.DallasJolly123 wrote:Im new to the area but I enjoy it.
I've found Mojaves and Southern Pacifics on the same roads in my area last year. I'm always hoping to see an unusual looking rattler but no such luck. I have seen a couple Gopher Snakes that looked like Great Basin/San Diego intergrades though.
I seen some of the suspected 'hybrid' So pac/scute from your area... light green helleri... had them tested at LLU by Dr Hayes, who has a good collection of hybrids... no helleri/scute hybrid has ever been proven. your area is rather under-represented in regard to data collection, so i hope you'll consider entering your finds at HERP. also... we could use someone from your area, in our hi desert snake relocation/response team at High Desert Wildlife group on FB. gotta go to work... cyaaaaaaaa
BTW... the facebook wildlife pg is run by Nafha members, including our chapter vice Pres... and you may want to chek out our annual Tejon Ranch surveys coming up... always awesome...