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Animal Information Natural Treasures Reptiles (Non-Snakes) Table of Contents Red-footed Tortoise…………….………………………………………………………..2 Argentine Black and white Tegu.………………….………………………..……..4 Madagascar Giant Day Gecko.……………………………………….……..………5 Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko……………………………………………………………6 Panther Chameleon………………………………………………………………………8 Prehensile-tailed Skink………………………………………….……………………..10 Chuckwalla………………………………………………………….……………………….12 Crevice Spiny Lizard……………………………………………………………………..14 Gila Monster……………………………………………..………………………………...15 Dwarf Caiman………….…………………………………………………………………..17 Spotted Turtle……………………………………………………………………………..19 Mexican Beaded Lizard………………………………………………………………..21 Collared Lizard………………………………………………………………………....…23

Red-footed Tortoise Geocheloidis carbonaria 2

John Ball Zoo Habitat – Depending on whether they can be found either in the Natural Treasures Building or outside in the children’s zoo area across from the Budgie Aviary.

Individual Animals: 1 Male, 1 Female  Male – Morty (Smooth shell) o Age unknown . Records date back to 1985 o Arrived October 11, 2007 o Weight: 8.5lbs  Female - Ethel o Age unknown o Arrived June 02, 2011 o Weight: 9.5-10lbs

Life Expectancy  Insufficient data

Statistics  Carapace Length – 1.6 feet for males, females tend to be smaller

Diet – Frugivore – an animal that mainly eats fruit  Wild – Fruit during the wet season and flowers during the dry season o Some soil and fungi  Zoo – Salad mix (greens, fruits, veggies) hard boiled eggs, and fish o Fed twice a week

Predators  Other than humans, there is no information available concerning predators.

Habitat  Tropical, terrestrial  Rainforests and savanna areas. It prefers heavily forested, humid habitats but avoids muddy areas due to low burrowing capacity of these habitats.

Region  Throughout the South American mainland and North of Argentina. Red-footed Tortoise 3 Geocheloidis carbonaria

Reproduction – Polygynous (having more than one female as a mate at a time).  Sexual maturity is reached around 5 years of age.  Males compete for mates, and typically move their heads in a bobbing motion prior to wrestling. The turtle that flips his competitor on his back gains access to the female and an opportunity to mate.  Males attract potential mates and ward off competitors by producing sounds that are similar to a series of “clucks.”  Mating occurs from June through September.  Females typically lay 2-15 eggs in a clutch and can produce several clutches a year.  Incubation lasts from 117-158 days  Hatchlings are immediately independent.

Behavior  Diurnal  Avoid moving great distances.

Conservation Concerns  Habitat loss and over hunting pose a serious threat throughout its geographic range.  Without current population estimates, it is difficult to predict the potential conservation and management needs for this species.

Conservation Ask  Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions. o Action – When you make purchases, support green companies/eco-labels o Action – Choose your pets responsibly

Argentine Black and White Tegu 4 Salvator merianea John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building Individual Animals: 1 Male – Arnold  Born between October 2007 and April 2008 o Location unknown  Arrived July 09, 2010 o From a public donor Life Expectancy  Wild – Not enough data  Under Managed Care – 12-20 years Statistics  Length – up to 60 inches  Weight – 8-15 pounds  Males tend to be bigger, with large prominent jowl muscles Diet – Omnivore  Wild – The species feeds on a wide range of animals and fruit and may play an important role in seed dispersal. Predators – Not enough data, but there is human predation Habitat – Forest clearings, secondary forest, disturbed habitats including edges of roads and agricultural areas. It is referred to as a habitat generalist. Region – Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and in northern and central Argentina.  Introduced into Florida as a result of the pet trade. Reproduction  Breeding season is September – December  A female can lay 35 eggs in one clutch Adaptations  Tolerates cooler temperatures compared to other reptiles  Partially warm blooded demonstrating temperature control during the reproductive season. Behavior – Active in the daytime (Diurnal) Conservation Concerns – This animal is popular in the pet trade and is also hunted for its skin Conservation Ask  Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly Madagascar Giant Day Gecko 5 Phelsuma grandis John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building. Individual Animals: 1 Male, 1 Female  Female has calcium deposits located on both sides of neck.  Both estimated birth at 2010-2011 o Location unknown  Both arrived February 11, 2015 Life Expectancy  Wild – unknown  Under Managed Care – 6 years, sometime longer Statistics – Length: 3.9-9.8 inches Diet – Insects, fruit, and nectar Predators – limited data on specific predators. Habitat – Rainforest areas and grasslands Region – Northeast and northwest of Madagascar.  A population is also found on the island of Mauritius that may have been introduced as opposed to native. Reproduction  Females lay a clutch of eggs consisting of 2 eggs several times per year.  Incubation lasts 47 to 82 days.  The hatchlings are immediately self-sufficient.  Sexually mature is reached within one to two years. Adaptations  Some individuals develop calcium sacs on their necks.  Can drop last portion of the tail to distract predators. Behavior – Diurnal, Arboreal

 Typically found clinging to vertical surfaces.  Once they shed they will eat their own skin.  Male geckos can change colors when they are stressed or if they are ill. Conservation Concerns  This animal is collected for the pet trade. Conservation Ask  Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o Choose your pets responsibly Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko 6 Uroplatus henkeli

John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building Individual Animals: 2 Males  Male o Born January 11, 2018 . At Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens o Arrived October 19, 2018 . From Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens  Male o Born March 19, 2018 . At Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens o Arrived October 19, 2018 . From Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens Life Expectancy  Wild – 2-5 years  Average at AZA institutions: 4.9 year  Oldest recorded at AZA institutions: 12.4 years Statistics – Length – up to 10 inches Diet – Insects Predators – Rats, snakes, and birds of prey such as owls and eagles. Habitat  Rainforest that has remained undisturbed for a long enough to reach a mature condition. Region  Endemic to Madagascar occurring in the extreme north and northwest of the island. Reproduction  The female lays 2 spherical eggs on the forest floor generally under fallen leaves, beneath a piece of wood, or amongst dead leaves still attached to a plant.  Incubation lasts over 90 days. Adaptations  Henkel’s flat-tailed gecko have feet equipped with large toe pads providing impressive adhesion when climbing.  Fringe of skin edging the head and body enables the gecko to blend into tree trunks by breaking up the outline of the body and preventing any shadows from forming.

Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko 7 Uroplatus henkeli

 The Geckos’ coloration and flattened tail resembling a dead leaf, makes them great at camouflaging into their forest surroundings.

Behavior – Nocturnal, Arboreal  It can confuse its predators by voluntarily shedding its tail.  Daylight hours are spent resting head downwards on trees.  Has the ability to frighten predators by opening its mouth wide and revealing the bright red cavity inside.

Conservation Concerns  This animal is collected for the pet trade.  Loss of habitat due to human activities including logging and the expansion of agricultural activities.

Conservation Ask  Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o Actions – When you make purchases, support green companies/eco labels o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly

Panther Chameleon 8

Furcifer pardalis John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building. Individual Animals: 2 Males  Both Males o Estimated hatch: September 2018 . At Florida Chameleons o Arrived: December 14, 2018 . From Florida Chameleons Life Expectancy  Wild: Maximum 2 years  Under managed care: up 5 years Statistics  Length – Males: 9 inches; Females: 5 inches Diet – Insectivore  Wild – terrestrial invertebrates and plant material (rare). Predators  Birds and snakes. Habitat  Lowland, dry deciduous forests close to thin belts of trees bordering rivers and roads. Region  Northeast and east coast of Madagascar. Reproduction – Polygynous: more than one female as a mate at a time.  Sexual maturity is reached at 6 months.  Males display bright colors and a series of jerking or bobbing head movements while advancing on a female.  Breeding occurs between January and May.  Gestation: 3-6 weeks  The females excavate burrows by digging with their front feet and then backing into them to deposit 10 to 46 eggs.  Young are independent at birth. Adaptations  Ability to rotate and focus their eyes separately to observe two different objects simultaneously o This allows them a full 360-degree arc of vision around their body while staying completely still and camouflaged.  Panther chameleons lack a vomeronasal organ, an auxiliary olfactory sense organ that is found in many animals. Panther Chameleon Furcifer pardalis 9

 They do not have an outer or a middle ear, which suggests that chameleons might be deaf.  Sharp claws on each toe help them climb and grip surfaces that they cannot grasp tightly, such as tree trunks.  Specialized feet with a tong-like appearance called zygodactyl. On each foot the five toes are fused into a group of two digits and a group of three digits. On the front feet the bundle of three toes is on the inside of the foot, and the bundle of two toes is on the outside. This is reversed on the rear foot, giving them a secure and strong grasp and allowing them to maneuver horizontally or vertically on a wide variety of vegetation or structures. These specialized feet allow chameleons to hold on tightly to narrow branches.  In addition to an adhesive pad, the speed and form of the tongue also creates a suction device to capture prey. Behavior – Arboreal and solitary  Diurnal: active during the day.  Opportunistic hunters: wait for prey to pass within range of their long tongues.  They are slow-moving creatures that often freeze and remain unmoving for long periods of time which may also aid in going unnoticed by predators. Conservation Concerns  The pet trade Conservation Ask  Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly

Prehensile-tailed Skink 10 Corucia zebrata

John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building. Individual Animals: 1 Male, 1 Female  Male o Hatched November 30, 2004 . At Philadelphia Zoo o Arrived October 18, 2006 . From Philadelphia Zoo  Female o Hatched June 28,2005 . At Philadelphia Zoo o Arrived October 18, 2006 . From Philadelphia Zoo Life Expectancy  Wild: Not enough data  Under managed care: up to 15 years Statistics – largest species of skink  Length – up to 32 inches  Weight – 14-28 ounces Diet – Herbivore (only species of skink that is completely herbivorous)  Wild – Flowers, fruit, and leaves (particularly the leaves of the Solomon Island Creeper plant. Predators  Birds of prey, snakes, rats, and humans Habitat  Canopies of tropical rainforests Region  Solomon Islands in the South Pacific Reproduction  Sexual maturity is reached at about 2 years of age  Gestation: 6-8 months  Viviparous, one of few reptiles giving birth to live young.  Gives birth to 1-2 offspring  Cares for young for up to 6 months  Father will defend the baby

Prehensile-tailed Skink 11 Corucia zebrata

Adaptations  Strong jaws, loud hiss, excellent eyesight and sense of smell  It has thick, strong, short legs and sharp claws that help it climb trees.  This species does not have the ability to regenerate if its tail should it break off.  Scattered black scales aid in camouflage.  Prehensile tail that can curl around objects like branches in order to hold onto them for balance. o Only species of skink with a prehensile tail. Behavior – Arboreal  Crepuscular: most active during the early morning and late evening hours. Conservation Concerns  Deforestation and the pet trade  Exportation of this species is illegal to protect the declining population. Conservation Ask  Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Action – Donate time/money to the Zoo . By supporting JBZ guests are helping to support the Species Survival Plan for Prehensile-tailed Skinks

Chuckwalla 12 Sauromalus ater

John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat with Crevice Spiny Lizards and Gila Monsters. Individual Animals: 2 Females

 Female (typically behind the scenes) o Hatched August 24, 1993 . At Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (South Carolina) o Arrived October 29, 2009 . From Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (South Carolina)  Female o Hatched September 25, 2010 . At Bronx Zoo o Arrived September 21, 2011 . From Bronx Zoo Life Expectancy – Wild: Average 15 years. Statistics  Weight: 0.5 pounds  Length: 6.38 inches o The tail makes up close to half the total length.  Males tend to be larger than females. Diet – Omnivore  Wild – Primarily plants, including leaves and fruit. Some insects. Predators  Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrels, Coyotes, and Mojave Rattlesnakes

Habitat – Shrubland, Rocky areas, and Deserts Region  Western United States, Mexico, and 30 known islands in the Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, the Mojave and Sonoran deserts are known to have thriving populations of chuckwallas.

Chuckwalla Sauromalus ater 13

Reproduction  Sexual Maturity reached at 2-3 years of age.  Both sexes have multiple partners year to year.  Male chuckwallas use head-bobbing, licking, circling, nudging, jaw-rubbing, and other methods to persuade females to mate.  Mating usually takes place in the early spring after brumation (similar to hibernation).  Females prepare an underground nest in an area with dry soil that is unlikely to be disturbed.  Gestation: 1 Month  Clutch size: 5-16 eggs.  Female incubate the eggs for about 35 days.  Females protect their eggs from predators and other threats while they incubate.  After hatching, females no longer care for their young. o Males do not provide parental care. Adaptations  They can inflate their lungs in order to wedge themselves tightly against rocks to protect themselves from predators.  Neutral-colored scales serve as camouflage in the warm browns, tans, and greys of the desert landscape. Behavior – Solitary and diurnal  Hides in crevices and rocks when they feel threatened or scared.  From November - March they may go through brumation (hibernation).  Most of their time is spent basking on rocks when they are not looking for food. Conservation Concerns  Excessive collecting  Habitat degradation due to grazing activities of goats, sheep, and burros. Conservation Ask  Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Action – Donate time/money to the Zoo . Volunteer, become a member, return visit, make purchase

Crevice Spiny Lizard Sceloporus poinsettii 14

John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat with Chuckwallas and Gila Monsters. Individual Animals: 2 Males, 1 Female, 1 Undetermined  Group arrived at John Ball Zoo on January 11, 2018  1 Male born May 26, 2014  1 Female born May 26, 2014  1 Male born August 19, 2016  1 Undetermined born August 19, 2016 Life Expectancy – Not enough data Statistics  Length – 3-5.5in Diet – Omnivore  Wild – Insects, such as grasshoppers, ants, beetles, termites, caterpillars. Spiders, buds, blossoms, and leaves. Predators  Not enough data Habitat  Rocky canyons, gullies, hillsides, barren areas, mesquite grassland, creosote bush desert, arid woodland, and spruce-fir forest. Region  Mexico and from southern New Mexico to central Texas Reproduction  Reaches sexual at 15-17 months of age.  Mates in the Fall  Produces 1 litter a year  Live-bearing, 7-16 young, born June-July Behavior  Live in social groups of 3-6 individuals dominated by 1 adult male. Conservation Concerns  No major threats Conservation Ask  Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Action – Donate time/money to the Zoo . Volunteer, become a member, return visit, make purchase Gila Monster 15 Heloderma suspectum

John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat with Chuckwallas and Crevice Spiny Lizards. Individual Animals: 2 Males  Male o Birth date and location: unknown o Arrived July 14, 1996

. From a public donor  Male o Birth date and location: unknown o Arrived April 07, 2011 . From a public donor Life Expectancy  Wild – Not enough data  Under Managed Care – 20-30 years Statistics  Length – up to 22 inches Diet – Carnivore  Wild – small mammals (young rabbits, mice and squirrels), birds, lizards, and eggs. Predators  Coyotes and humans

Habitat  The Gila monster can be found in arid areas typically containing scattered cacti, shrubs, mesquite, and grasses. Region  Extreme southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, and adjacent San Bernardino County, California, southeastward through west and south Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. It ranges south into Mexico through Sonora to northwestern Sinaloa.

Gila Monster 16

Heloderma suspectum Reproduction  Mating, which is usually in May, begins with the male tongue-flicking to seek a females’ scent, while rubbing his cloaca on the ground.  Copulation lasts from 30 minutes to an hour.  The female lays 1-12 eggs in an underground cavity, normally in July or August.  Incubation lasts on average about ten months.  The young hatch and emerge the following May. Adaptations  Tongue is used for olfaction.  This is one of only two venomous lizard species in the world. o The venom is used to defend itself from predators.  The Gila monster has the capability to consume large amounts of food at one time. This is helpful when finding prey at regular intervals is difficult.  Scales are rounded and don't overlap. The scales are supported beneath the skin by bony elements called osteoderms. Behavior – Diurnal: Active in the daytime  Gila monsters spend a large proportion of their time underground in burrows, hibernating during the winter and sheltering from the midday sun in the scorching summer months. The lizards emerge from hibernation in spring and the majority of their activity occurs in the following three-month period. Conservation Concerns  This animal is used in the illegal pet trade.  Loss of habitat to development. Conservation Ask  Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly

Dwarf Caiman 17 Paleosuchus palpebrosus

John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building Individual Animals: 1 Male, 1 Female  Female – smaller o Hatched December 30, 1984 . At Albuquerque BioPark Zoo o Arrived September 01, 1993 . From Zoo Atlanta  Male – larger; hole on right hand side of snout. o Hatched 1989 (Estimate) . Unknown location o Arrived November 30, 1993 . From Lincoln Park Zoo Life Expectancy – not a lot of data, however they are known to have long lifespans.  Wild – 20-40 years  Under Managed Care – 20-60 years Statistics – smallest of the alligator family  Length – up to 1.9 feet  Weight – 13-15 pounds  Males tend to be bigger Diet – Carnivore  Wild – The young feed on aquatic and shoreline insects of many species. Adults mainly consume tadpoles, frogs, snails, fish, small mammals, and a wide variety of insects. Predators  Rats and other carnivores will eat Caiman eggs.  Young Caiman are taken by wading birds.  The only predators to adults are large boas, green anacondas, and jaguars.

Habitat  Found near rivers and inundated savanna areas. Prefers clean, clear, fast-moving streams or rivers in forested areas containing waterfalls and rapids. Region  Most commonly found in the wetlands of Brazil, French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, and Venezuela. Widespread throughout the Orinoco and Amazon basins. Dwarf Caiman 18

Paleosuchus palpebrosus Reproduction  When a male reaches a size of 3.6 feet, it has become sexually mature and the females are ready to breed when they are about 3.2 feet in length.  The mating process can last from 5-10 minutes to a

whole day.  Most females are only able to breed once a year.  Both Males and females build the nest.

 10-25 eggs are laid at a time.  The sex of hatchlings is determined by the incubation temperature of the eggs.  The eggs hatch after 90 days. The female opens the nest in response to vocalizations of the young from within the nests. Adaptations  The stomach enzymes in crocodiles and alligators are so strong that pH levels are among the lowest ever recorded in any vertebrate.  Contains gastroliths (small stones) inside the stomach. These stones are found only in one chamber of the stomach, the gizzard, and this one chamber has walls with folds to permit expansion and contraction. It is said these gastroliths help in the process of digestion, the stones churn inside the stomach, breaking apart the food. Behavior – Nocturnal hunter  During the mating season males are seen to lift their heads high and hold their tails almost vertically out of the water.  Like most crocodilians, they can convey social messages through sounds, postures, movements, smells, and touch. Conservation Concerns  Considered a "keystone species,” Caiman maintain the ecosystem structure and function by selective predation on fish species that if left unchecked, would transform the ecosystem. Conservation Ask  Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Actions – Donate time and money to the zoo . Become a member, return visit, make purchase Spotted Turtle 19 Clemmys guttata

John Ball Zoo Habitat – There is 1 spotted turtle located in the Frogs and friends building. Individual Animals: 1 Male, 3 Undetermined  Male o Housed in Frogs and Friends o Hatched September 2010 . Unknown location o Arrived February 24, 2011 . Private Donor

Life Expectancy  Can reach over 100 years of age. Statistics – Smallest species of turtle native to Michigan  Length – 4.5 inches Diet – Omnivore  Wild – algae, leaves of soft aquatic plants, water lily seeds, worms, mollusks, crustaceans, adult and larval insects, amphibian eggs and larvae, and carrion.

Predators – Raccoons, Common Snapping Turtles, Muskrats and Foxes.  Most predation is on eggs, and juveniles.

Habitat

 Shallow waters with a soft bottom substrate and some submergent and emergent vegetation. Sedge meadows, boggy ponds, fens, tamarack swamps, and slow, muddy streams. Region  Eastern North America: from Canada to Northern Florida including the Midwest.  Within this range, the Spotted Turtle is spottily distributed

in the remaining suitable habitat, and most populations are small and colonial in nature.

Behavior  Spotted Turtles tend to become inactive in the warmest part of the summer.  When surprised while basking, Spotted Turtles will dive into the water and bury themselves in the bottom mud. Spotted Turtle Clemmys guttata 20

Reproduction  Sexual maturity at a carapace length of 3.5 inches (around 7-14 years of age).  Male Spotted Turtles may fight each other, presumably over access to females.  Courtship involves the male chasing the female under water while nipping and biting her legs and carapace; he then mounts her shell and bites at her head and neck.  Copulation occurs in shallow water and may last for an hour.  Nesting can occur from late May through June.  Females typically lay only one clutch of from 1 to 8 eggs per year, though a few may lay a second, smaller clutch a few days after the first.

 Nesting females seek open, sunny locations that offer moist, but well-drained, soils.  The sex of the hatchlings is determined by nest temperature during the middle third of the incubation period; cooler experimental temperatures produced mostly males, and warmer temperatures produced only females.

Conservation Concerns  Pet trade

 Road mortality  Habitat destruction  Sensitivity to pollution in waterways

Conservation Ask  Be thoughtful while connecting and engaging with Nature o If you care, leave it there

o Help turtle cross the road  Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o Choose your pets responsibly

Mexican Beaded Lizard Heloderma horridum 21

John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building Individual Animals: 1 Male, 1 Female  Female o Born February 08, 2009 . At ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo o Arrived April 14, 2011

. From Fort Worth Zoological Park  Male o Born February 09, 2009 . At ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo o Arrived April 14, 2011 . From Fort Worth Zoological Park

Life Expectancy  Wild – Not enough data  Under Managed Care – 22 years Statistics  Length – up to 30 inches  Weight – 2.2-4.4 pounds Diet – Carnivore

 Wild – small mammals, birds, lizards, frogs, and eggs.

Predators  Coyotes, birds of prey, and humans

Habitat  Semi-arid rocky regions. Region  Central and western Mexico from latitude 25, southward to northern Central America.

Reproduction  The breeding season is in February and March and copulation lasts 30-60 minutes.  Eggs are laid 2 months after copulation.  Females lay 3-13 elongated eggs and bury them  Incubation takes about 6 months.

Mexican Beaded Lizard Heloderma horridum 22

Adaptations  When food is scarce, the Mexican Beaded Lizard lives off fat reserves in the tail. Fat is stored in the tail of the lizard making it appear swollen.  Venom used to kill its prey, and to subdue potential predators  Special grooved teeth to deliver their venom when they bite.  Tongue is used for olfaction.  This is one of only two venomous lizard species in the world.

 Scales are rounded and don't overlap. The scales are supported beneath the skin by bony elements called osteoderms. Behavior  This species hides in self-dug or pre-existing burrows during the day and becomes active at night.  The lizard gapes and hisses to fend off its enemies.

Conservation Concerns  This animal is used in the illegal pet trade.  Deforestation for agricultural purposes  Human persecution and deliberate killing.  In some places, urban sprawl and road construction pose threats to this species. Conservation Ask  Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions

o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly  Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Donate time/money to the zoo . Become a member, return visit, make purchase

 There is a Species Survival Plan for Mexican Beaded Lizards.

Eastern Collared Lizard Crotaphytus collaris 23

John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building  Housed with Mexican Beaded Lizards Individual Animals: 2 Males, 2 Females  Group arrived at John Ball Zoo on May 03, 2018  1 Female born April 26, 2017  1 Male born May 09, 2017  1 Male born June 07, 2017

 1 Female born July 17, 2017 Life Expectancy – Preliminary data indicates a range of 5-8 years.

Statistics  Length – 8-14 inches, including tail  Exhibits sexual dimorphism - Males tend to be blue-green in color, females a gray-white. Diet  Wild – Mainly insects and some plant matter . There is some documentation of Collared Lizards preying upon other lizards. Predators – Lizards, birds, and coyotes.

Habitat – Arid areas with large rocks and some hardwood forest regions. Region – Between Kansas and northeastern Mexico. Reproduction

 Breeding begins in May and continues through June.  Eggs are deposited in underground burrows underneath rocks and loose sand.  Lays 2-11 eggs in a clutch typically in July

Behavior - Diurnal  Most active during the warmest.  They bask on rocks to aid in thermoregulation .  When fleeing from danger, the lizard will lift its body and tail, and run on its hind legs. The lizards will hid under rocks or trees nearby until they feel safe to come out again. Conservation Concerns – No major threats Conservation Ask

 Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Action – Donate time/money to the Zoo . Volunteer

. Donate funds/materials (sponsor, enrichment, round up purchases) . Become a member, return visit, make purchase