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Granite Night Lizard
Xantusia henshawi
33.0029, -116.915
Field Notes
Description:
Bucket List!!! This is the gorgeous Granite Night Lizard. It is a very fast nocturnal lizard that is highly sought after by Reptile hunters. I was lucky enough to find it during the day when lifting up a piece of wood. It is a yellow lizard with dark patches. The tail is spotted and banded. The eye is orange with an elliptical slit that is common on nocturnal animals.
Habitat:
Because of the specific habitat of this lizard, I will not enter the correct location on the map. This species prefers granite outcrops that are exfoliated on north-facing slopes. They live in Coast Sage Scrub, Oak Woodland, Chaparral, Desert and even high elevations. This one was in North San Diego county.
Notes:
"Although common throughout much of its range, this lizard is protected from collection. It needs exfoliated and fissured granite outcrops to survive. It takes thousands of years for this exfoliation and fissuring to occur, so this habitat will not be replaced for many centuries. When flakes and slabs are torn off rock outcrops by someone searching for this lizard or other reptiles, the habitat is irreparably damaged. Such rock destruction is illegal in California: "It is unlawful to use any method or means of collecting that involves breaking apart of rocks, granite flakes, logs or other shelters in or under which reptiles may be found." (2007 regulations 5.60.4.)"
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