The Mojave fringe-toed lizard (Uma scoparia), is a species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of medium-sized, white or grayish, black-spotted diurnal

Diurnal

Diurnal may refer to:* Diurnal cycle, any pattern that recurs daily** Diurnality, the behavior of animals and plants that are active in the daytime* Diurnal motion, the apparent motion of stars around the Earth...

 lizard

Lizard

Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...

 in the family Phrynosomatidae

Phrynosomatidae

Phrynosomatidae is a diverse family of lizards, 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 lizards prefer rocky deserts or even relatively moist forest edges, and the short-horned lizard lives in prairie...

. It is adapted to living in sand dunes in the Mojave Desert

Mojave Desert

The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...

. It ranges from Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County in California to extreme western Arizona in La Paz County. The Mojave fringe-toed lizard is omnivorous.

External links

• CaliforniaHerps.com page for Mojave fringe-toed lizard. Includes detailed description and photos.
• Mojave fringe-toed lizard Close-up image of fringed toes.
• Center for Biological Diversity page for Mojave fringe-toed lizard. Discusses basis and recent history of efforts to protect the lizard.