Crotaphytidae

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Reptilia
Subclassis: Diapsida
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Sauria
Infraordo: Iguania
Familia: Crotaphytidae
Genera: Crotaphytus - Gambelia

Name

Crotaphytidae Smith & Brodie, 1982

References

* Smith, Hobart M. and Edmund D. Brodie. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press, New York.
* Frost, D.E. & Etheridge, R.E. 1989. A Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Iguanian Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 81.

Vernacular names

The family Crotaphytidae, or collared lizards, are desert-dwelling reptiles native to the southwest USA and northern Mexico. They are very fast-moving animals, with long limbs and tails, and are carnivorous, feeding mainly on insects.

There are 12 species in two genera.

Technical characters

* Femoral pores present.
* Interparietal scale small (distinctly smaller than ear opening).
* Never have an enlarged midorsal scale row or fringe.
* Never have a divided rostral scale.
* No bony spines or projecting ridges on their heads.
* No scales projecting over their ears, and no scales forming a prominent fringe on sides of toes as in Phrynosomatidae.

Species

Family: Crotaphytidae

* Genus Gambelia (Leopard lizards)
o Cope's Leopard Lizard - Gambelia copeii
o Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard - Gambelia sila
o Long-nosed Leopard Lizard - Gambelia wislizenii
* Genus Crotaphytus (Collared lizards)
o Venerable Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus antiquus
o Desert Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus bicinctores
o Common Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus collaris
o Grismer's Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus grismeri
o Sonoran Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus nebrius
o Reticulated Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus reticulatus
o Baja Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus vestigium