The Diverse Lizards of Nevada: A Complete Guide

Nevada is home to an impressive diversity of lizards. From tiny geckos to large chuckwallas, 25 species make their homes in the Silver State.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to identify the most common lizards in Nevada, where to find them, and fascinating facts about their behaviors and adaptations

Common Lizards of Southern Nevada

The Mojave Desert dominates southern Nevada. It’s an extremely arid region, with hot summers and mild winters. Lizards that thrive here are well adapted to the intense heat and lack of water.

Zebra-Tailed Lizard

With striking black and white bands on its tail, the zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) is aptly named These small lizards reach around 4 inches in length Their tan or brown backs are perfect camouflage against the desert sand and soil.

Zebra-tailed lizards inhabit washes and flats with hard-packed clay or gravel soils. They avoid dense vegetation. In warm months, they’re active in the morning and evening but take shelter underground when temperatures peak.

Desert Iguana

The desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) is the largest lizard in southern Nevada growing over 16 inches long including the tail. Tan to gray with dark brown blotches along the sides, these iguanas are well camouflaged.

Desert iguanas live in extremely hot, dry desert scrub and around dry lake beds. They’re active during the day year-round, even in summer when temperatures exceed 100°F. They dig burrows for retreats from the midday sun.

Common Chuckwalla

One look at the common chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) reveals how well adapted it is to desert life. These big lizards have flattened bodies and loose folds of skin for absorbing heat efficiently. Adults reach 18 inches long.

Chuckwallas inhabit rocky hillsides, boulders, and lava flows. Their mottled black, brown, and tan coloring provides camouflage. When threatened, they slip into rock crevices.

Western Banded Gecko

The western banded gecko (Coleonyx variegatus) is a small desert lizard, growing to about 3 inches. Its translucent pinkish body has distinctive dark bands and spots.

These nocturnal geckos live underground in burrows during the day to escape the intense desert heat. At night they emerge to hunt insects around rocks and vegetation. Their favorite habitats are arid plains with creosote and sagebrush.

Desert Night Lizard

Don’t let the name fool you – the desert night lizard (Xantusia vigilis) is actually active during the day. It grows to nearly 3 inches long and varies from gray to olive brown with a white and black speckled underside.

Desert night lizards inhabit rocky desert slopes, canyons, and dry washes. They spend their days under rocks or brush searching for insects to eat. Their nocturnal cousins come out at night.

Desert Spiny Lizard

Adding a pop of color to the sandy desertscape, male desert spiny lizards (Sceloporus magister) have vibrant blue patches on their bellies and tails. Females are brown or tan without the bright markings. These lizards grow up to 6 inches long.

They inhabit scrublands, plains, and woodlands with sandy soil. Desert spinys spend mornings basking on rocks before retreating to burrows to escape the midday heat. They’re active again in the evening.

Ornate Tree Lizard

Despite its arboreal name, the ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) actually spends most of its time perched on rocks. But it does sometimes climb into trees or bushes. These lizards grow around 2 inches long and live in rocky desert canyons and hillsides.

Males have bright blue or green belly patches outlined in black and orange or yellow throats. Drabber females lack the flashy markings. Both sexes have brown or gray backs with dark blotches for camouflage against the rocks.

Common Lizards of Northern Nevada

The Great Basin region makes up most of northern Nevada. It’s milder and wetter than southern Nevada, with cold winters and more vegetation. Lizards here are adapted for cooler weather and more varied habitats.

Sagebrush Lizard

One of the most widespread lizards in Nevada, the sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus graciosus) occurs throughout the state in scrublands, prairies, forests and woodlands. It reaches about 31⁄2 inches long.

These agile climbers have brown or gray backs with a light stripe bordered by darker lines down the center. Males develop blue patches on their bellies and orange heads during mating seasons. Females are plainer.

Western Fence Lizard

On fences, logs, and boulders across northern Nevada you’ll find western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) sunning themselves. At 3-4 inches long, their mottled gray and brown backs provide camouflage, while the bright blue undersides of males make them pop against the neutral backgrounds.

These common lizards inhabit a variety of environments including forests, sagebrush, meadows, and suburban neighborhoods. They avoid the driest deserts.

Greater Short-Horned Lizard

Also known as the mountain short-horned lizard, this species (Phrynosoma hernandesi) occurs at higher elevations in northern Nevada. They reach over 4 inches long and have flat bodies and short horn-like scales on their heads and backs.

Their camouflaging colors vary from yellowish to reddish-brown with spots and blotches. Ants are their primary prey. Look for them in mountain meadows, prairies, and pine forests.

Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard

The long-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia wislizenii) is aptly named for its long snout and spots on the back and tail. It is a nimble runner, darting quickly on its long legs when disturbed. total length reaches over 7 inches.

These lizards inhabit semi-arid sagebrush plains, grasslands, and saltbrush habitats across northern Nevada. Their ability to survive in arid regions enables them to occupy hot deserts too.

Pygmy Short-Horned Lizard

At just 21⁄2 inches long, the pygmy short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii) is Nevada’s smallest horned lizard. Their color varies from gray to reddish-brown with dark spots down the back. Tiny blunt horns line the head and body.

Pygmy short-horns occupy higher elevation sagebrush steppes and mountain meadows in northern Nevada. With their cold tolerance, they thrive even above 10,000 feet elevation. Ants are their primary prey.

Western Skink

The smoothly scaled western skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) reaches nearly 9 inches long including its tail. Brown overall with a black bordered brown stripe down the back, these secretive lizards inhabit moist areas along streams, meadows, and woodlands.

Northern Nevada is the stronghold for western skinks, though they barely venture into the drier central and southern parts of the state. Their need for moisture keeps them in the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada.

Desert Collared Lizard

Despite their name, desert collared lizards (Crotaphytus bicinctores) occur more commonly in northern Nevada than the southern deserts. Males have black collars on the neck and grow up to 5 inches long. Females lack the vivid black markings.

These agile lizards prefer rocky hillsides and cliffs with sparse vegetation in the Great Basin. Watch for them sunning on boulders. When threatened, they take cover in rock crevices and burrows.

Rare and Interesting Nevada Lizards

Beyond the common species above, Nevada has a few particularly unique lizards to keep an eye out for.

Gila Monster

Nevada’s lone venomous lizard, the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) is a rare sight. These stocky lizards grow over a foot long and have black bodies marked with orange, pink, and yellow. Their blunt tails and bumpy skin give them a dinosaur-like look.

Gila monsters inhabit desert scrublands and dry washes in southwest Nevada. With a painful bite and mild venom, they pose little danger to humans unless threatened or handled.

Chuckwalla

The common chuckwalla (Sauromaulus ater) of southern Nevada has a distinctive loose-skinned appearance. Adults reach 18 inches long. When threatened, they inflate their bodies with air and wedge themselves into rock crevices.

Chuckwallas are often seen sunning themselves on boulders and roadsides. Their mottled black, brown, and tan coloring camouflages them against the rocks.

Western Whiptail

With their long slender bodies and tails that are twice the length of the body, western whiptails (Aspidoscelis tigris) look just like little snakes! But they have eyelids, giving their reptilian identity away. These striped lizards reach about 12 inches long.

Western whiptails occupy both northern and southern Nevada in arid plains, woodlands, and deserts. They’re active in warmer months but hibernate underground through winter.

Watching Lizards in Nevada

With 25 lizard species inhabiting diverse ecosystems, Nevada offers superb lizard watching for nature lovers.

The best times to spot lizards are in warm sunny weather when they emerge to bask. Walk slowly and quietly in their habitats, scanning the ground and rocks. Use binoculars to get better looks without disturbing them.

With their fascinating diversity and behaviors, Nevada’s lizards provide a window into the state’s remarkable ecology. Getting acquainted with these remarkable reptiles offers adventure for all ages.