# Prairie Lizard (*Sceloporus consobrinus*) The Prairie Lizard is a small, colorful lizard that loves to bask in the sun. It has a unique pattern that helps it blend into the grass and rocks of its home. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Prairie Lizard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sceloporus_consobrinus%252C_Jefferson_County%252C_Missouri.jpg&width=800) Photo: Peter Paplanus, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sceloporus_consobrinus%252C_Jefferson_County%252C_Missouri.jpg) ## Appearance The Prairie Lizard has a flat body, typically grayish-brown or tan with dark spots and often stripes. Males flash bright blue patches on their throat and belly, especially vibrant during breeding season. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Phrynosomatidae - **Genus:** Sceloporus ## Interesting facts - Each Prairie Lizard has a unique pattern of spots, like a special fingerprint! - Male Prairie Lizards do push-ups to show off their blue throat patches! - These lizards can hear super well, even tiny rustles in the grass! - They spend winter in a sleepy state called brumation, buried safely underground! ## Special abilities - **Escape Artist Tail:** Prairie Lizard can drop its tail if caught, which wiggles to distract predators, giving the lizard time to run away! - **Blended in Brown:** Prairie Lizard has scales that help it change color slightly, making it disappear against rocks and dirt. - **Rock Grippers:** Prairie Lizard has strong claws and rough scales that help it climb rocks and tree trunks with ease. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 13-23 cm - **Weight:** 0.004-0.01 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-17 - **Incubation:** 45-60 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters gobble up all sorts of creepy crawlies like grasshoppers and spiders! - **Age differences:** Young lizards eat smaller insects than adults do. - **Primary Foods:** grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, spiders, ants - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coachwhip](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coachwhip) (*Coluber flagellum*) — Swift snake that hunts lizards. - **Eaten by:** [Loggerhead Shrike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/loggerhead-shrike) (*Lanius ludovicianus*) — A bird that preys on small reptiles. - **Eats:** [Gray Bird Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gray-bird-grasshopper) (*Schistocerca nitens*) — A common large insect it consumes. ## Traits - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a lizard, watch it from a distance and don't try to catch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Prairie Lizard? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Prairie Lizard? 13-23 cm ### How much does Prairie Lizard weigh? 0.004-0.01 kg ### How long does Prairie Lizard live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Prairie Lizard move? 15 km/h ### What does Prairie Lizard eat? These tiny hunters gobble up all sorts of creepy crawlies like grasshoppers and spiders! ### Where is Prairie Lizard usually found? Grasslands ### How does Prairie Lizard hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Charlotte Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charlotte-street-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Quartz Mountain Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/quartz-mountain-nature-park) — Oklahoma, US · Park - [Buford Mountain Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buford-mountain-conservation-area) — Missouri, US · Nature Reserve - [Metropolitan Park Bathhouse and Pool Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/metropolitan-park-bathhouse-and-pool-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Pueblo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pueblo-zoo) — Colorado, US · Zoo - [Blue Springs Heritage Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blue-springs-heritage-center) — Arkansas, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Prairie Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/prairie-lizard) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Prairie Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/prairie-lizard)