Common Collared Lizard
(Crotaphytus collaris)
Distribution
This is a diurnal species of lizard, which lives in central USA and Mexico, in rocky open areas. There are currently five subspecies recognized, although they are highly controversial and some are classed as separate species by some authors and these are; The Yellow headed Collared Lizard (
Crotaphytus collaris auriceps)
, The Eastern Collared Lizard (
Crotaphytus collaris collaris), Western Collared Lizard (
Crotaphytus collaris baileyi)
, Chihuahuan Collared Lizard (
Crotaphytus collaris fuscus)
, and The Black Spotted Collared Lizard (
Crotaphytus collaris melanomaculatus). Another name used in some areas of its native range is the Mountain Boomer.
This is the state lizard of Oklahoma.
Size
This lizard can reach sizes of up to 40cm, with the tail being roughly twice the length of the snout to vent length.
Diet
Collared Lizards are aggressive feeders, which feed mainly upon insects and larvae, such as crickets, spiders, mealworms, waxworms etc. All food items should be well fed on a good diet prior to being fed to the lizards. All food items should also be dusted with a calcium supplement. Some individuals may also take some vegetable matter, and the larger specimens will also take pinkies / fuzzies, although in the wild they are known to be saurophagous (prey on lizards), so keep them in same sized groups.
Requirements- Heat Source – A guarded Ceramic heater or red/green reflector spot bulb is usually the best method of heating these should be guarded to prevent thermal burns from occurring. Care should be taken if heat mats are used as ventral infections and damage has been linked to their use. This species prefers rocky basking areas.
- UV Light Source: - A reptisun 10.0 UVB light or similar strength brand should be used with this species. This should be positioned no more than 30cm away from the tortoise when it’s basking and be left on for 12 hours per day. This should be replaced every 6-7 months. Care should be taken with albino specimens (or any colour with unpigmented eyes) as the UV can damage them.
- Housing: - This should consist of a dark wooden vivarium with glass frontage and adequate ventilation. A vivarium measuring 120cm long by 90cm high by 45cm wide (4 feet long by 3 feet high by 1½ feet wide). Males are notoriously aggressive and should not be housed with other males. Hatchlings should be kept in a smaller container, which can be housed within their future vivarium.
- Thermostat: - An essential part of any vivarium and is required to regulate the internal temperatures of the vivarium and to prevent your pet from becoming too hot or too cold.
- Wire Mesh Guards: - These should be fitted over all heat sources used in order to prevent thermal burns.
- Thermometers: - One should be placed at each end of the vivarium in order to give an accurate reading of the temperatures within the vivarium. Never go by the temperature on the thermostat, as these are often inaccurate.
- Hides: - These are essential to prevent stress and allow your pet to hide away from the outside world. Boxes, plant pots, cave etc. all make excellent hides. Rocky hides of varying height are essential for this species.
Water and Humidity
These animals in particular do not require great amounts of water however a shallow water bowl should be provided, to enable the animals to use it as and when required. These animals arise from areas with low levels of humidity.
Temperature
A basking area of 35 - 40°C (95 - 104°F) is required at one end of the vivarium. The background temperature should fall to around 23°C (75°F) at the cool end. A clear distinction should be made between the day and night temperatures, allowing the night temperature to fall to around 24 - 29°C (70 - 85°F).
NB- Collared Lizards often do not adapt to captivity if wild caught and this species is renowned for bashing its face off glass surfaces like water dragons, always purchase long term captives or captive bred animals to reduce the risk of this happening.
Some species do not shed their tails, but instead lose the last 20% of their tails. If given the space, they often run on their hind limbs to capture their prey or escape at high speeds.
Breeding
An oviparous species whish usually lays clutches consisting of between 1 and 12 eggs, although clutches of up to 24 eggs have been recorded (the average clutch size is usually 4 - 6 eggs). The clutches are usually laid towards the end of spring. The eggs hatch after a 10-week incubation.
Sexing
The male has a brightly coloured throat, usually blue, green or orange and sometimes having blue patches on the stomach, whereas the females tend to be duller in colour (fawn or grey), except in the breeding season where they usually turn a reddish colour. Some species are also sexually dimorphic, the males being slightly bigger than the females.
Substrate
A mixture of gravel, small rocks and play sand are a good substrate as they give this active lizard grip when running around its enclosure and digging opportunities. Rocks should be strategically placed in order to produce crevices to hide in, as these animals are shy and easily frightened.
Photograph taken by Stuart Dodsworth.
A Distribution map will be added as soon as one is located.
Recommended Reading/Useful Contacts
Stuart Dodsworth –
stuartandlynette@dodsworth2005.wanadoo.co.uk
The International Herpetological Society –
www.international-herp-society.co.uk
The British Herpetological Society –
www.thebhs.org
Taxonomy Information –
http://srs.embl-heidelberg.de:8000/srs5bin/cgi-bin/wgetz?-e+[REPTILIA-Species:'Crotaphytus_SP_collaris']
http://www.anapsid.org/collared.html
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Crotaphytus_collaris.html
http://www.mountainboomer.com/boomer.htm
http://coloherp.org/careshts/other/desrtliz.php#Crot
http://www.herpseeker.com/worldspecies/Sauria/iguania/crotaphytus.htm
http://reptilesathome.bravehost.com/collaredcaresheet.htm
http://www.geocities.com/crotaphytus/
www.reptilekeeper.co.uk
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