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Common Reptiles of White Sands

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Common Reptiles of White Sands National Park Service White Sands Department of the Interior White Sands National Monument Common Reptiles of White Sands any people believe the desert is a barren, dry place with little life. Although Mdeserts usually have a scorching sun and little rain, many animals both live and thrive within White Sands National Monument. The reptiles of White Sands show us their strategies for survival in the most unique desert of all. At about four inches long, the bleached Found throughout the dunefield, earless lizard isn’t really earless or these lizards like to bury themselves bleached. Its name comes from the just under the surface in loose, sandy lighter variation of the Common Lesser soil. They are identifiable by two Earless Lizard. The term “earless” black spots on each side. They feast comes from the fact that these lizards on a variety of insects and spiders. do not have external ear openings. Bleached Earless Lizard Holbrookia maculata ruthveni Have you ever seen or experienced lizard). Researchers love coming adaptation? The image to the left shows to White Sands to learn about and how “survival of the fittest” really study the unique species that inhabit works! There is some debate whether the gypsum dunes. The little white the little white whiptail (bottom lizard) whiptail is prey to many birds and is its own species or a subspecies of mammals. This lizard will detach itself the little striped whiptail lizard (top from its tail as an escape strategy. Little White Whiptail Aspidoscelis gypsi Found throughout White Sands, the prefers to avoid the mid-day heat Southwestern fence lizard can be black of summer and is most active mid- to light brown to white, depending morning and late afternoon. Instead on where it’s found. Males are easy to of actively hunting, it sits and waits identify since they have bright blue belly for prey to wander by. Insects are its patches, as well as blue or green chin favorite meal, but it will eat wasps, ©B. Burghart patches. Although diurnal, this lizard spiders, snails, and other small lizards. Southwestern Fence Lizard Sceleporus cowlesi At about 5.5-inches and found of about 2,500-square yards and can throughout the monument, this is be very territorial, especially during the only lizard at White Sands that is breeding season. This lizard is found apt to be active on warm days year- in a wide-range all throughout the round. It is identifiable by a single United States, but varies in coloration dark blotch just behind each foreleg. and pattern depending on its The males roam throughout an area environment. Common Side-Blotched Lizard Uta stansburiana To learn more about White Sands, visit http://www.nps.gov/whsa Harmless to humans, the coachwhip is is attempted. In captivity, while holding a long, slender tan or brown snake that its own head still, the coachwhip will can reach up to seven feet in length. Most whip its tail back and forth around the of the coachwhips at White Sands have edges of its cage to dislodge any lizards a pink color on the belly that becomes hiding there. When the lizard moves, it more pronounced under the tail. This becomes a meal. It is believed the same snake shows a nasty temper when capture technique is used in the wild. Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum The desert massasauga is characterized pitched. Although the massasauga can by two white stirpes on its face with use undulating waves like most snakes, it brown, dorsal patches outlined in prefers to move on loose sand by using white. The desert massasauga is usually the “sidewinding” technique. Like most paler than the eastern and western other creatures at White Sands, the subspecies. When compared to other massasauga prefers to come out during rattles, the massasauga’s is more high- the cooler times of day. Massasauga Sistrurus catenatus This large, heavy-bodied snake averages small mammals, birds, bird eggs, and about four feet in length but can grow up even lizards. However, the preferred to seven feet. The underbelly of those in prey of choice at White Sands is the White Sands is often creamy as opposed pocket gopher. A diurnal creature, this to yellow, beige, or tan as it is in other snake is most active at dusk and dawn. areas. A constrictor, the Sonoran gopher It prefers to avoid the mid-day heat by snake is harmless to humans and eats hiding in rodent burrows. Sonoran Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer affinis Reaching lengths of up to four feet, the and small mammals. This snake can be prairie rattlesnake is found mostly in a variety of colors, such as tan, grey, desert scrub habitats. Hibernating in or olive green. The oval blotches that winter, prairie rattlers often return to the run down the torso may be clear or same den year after year. When awake indistinct. Due to poor eyesight, prairie during warm months, they establish rattlesnakes use their forked tongues hunting territories and eat mainly lizards and heat-sensitive pits to find food. Prairie Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis The Western Diamond-backed rattlesnake backed rattlesnake preys on small can range from two to six feet in length! mammals such as the Apache pocket Characterized by the diamond-shaped mouse and prairie gopher. This swift blotches that run along its torso, this snake quickly responds defensively to any wide-spread rattlesnake can range in threat by rattling and striking. This snake color depending on its most common is identifiable by even-sized black and surroundings. The Western Diamond- white bands around the end of the tail. Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox Feeding mainly on small insects and box turtle, lives along the edges of sometimes plant matter, the box turtle, the monument’s boundaries where inhabits mainly the central portion of Chihuahuan Desert shrub is still the United States in between the Rocky predominant. In contrast to the other Mountains and the Mississippi River. subspecies, the ornate box turtle, the Here at White Sands the subspecies desert box turtle is more adequately terrapene ornata luteola, or the desert adapted to arid habitats. Desert Box Turtle Terrapene ornata Please Note: It is illegal to try to handle wildlife within monument boundaries. If you encounter any wildlife, please stay at a safe distance as some creatures can be dangerous and/or venomous. Revised 01/11/16.
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