General Distribution
The desert night lizard is widely distributed in arid and semiarid areas of the Mojave and
Colorado deserts and in the inner South Coast Range, but is most common in Joshua tree
and desert scrub habitats. It is found in association with yucca, digger pine, chamise, pinyon
pine and juniper. This is a secretive lizard, spending most of its time in and under yucca logs
and other cover. Reports of abundance range from 47 per ha (19 per ac) to 16,000 per ha
(6400 per ac) in very localized conditions (Miller 1951). This species is found at elevations of
300 to 1800 m (990 to 5900 ft). Activity may begin in early April at low elevations and last
until early fall, while emergence may be retarded until late spring at higher elevations. Habitat Requirements
Most commonly this species is found under and in logs of the several species of
yucca, and much less frequently under logs and debris of digger pine, root channels of
creosote, and other natural or unnatural cover objects (Brattstrom 1952, Stebbins 1954). Reproduction
Copulation occurs in late spring and egg development takes about 3
months. The young are born in September and October with an average of 2 young in a
brood (range 1-3). The mother attends the young for a short time after birth (Cowles 1944,
Miller 1948, 1951, Stebbins 1954). Daily/Seasonal Activity
Populations of desert night lizards at low elevations become active in
early April and remain so until late summer, while higher-elevation populations may not
become active until May. Daily activity patterns are difficult to determine, due to secretive
behavior. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that the desert night lizard is diurnal
(LaPointe 1966, Mautz and Case 1974). Diet and Foraging
This lizard eats termites, orthopterans, small beetles, homopterans,
hemipterans, collembolans, moths, caterpillars, flies, ants, ticks, and spiders. It waits for prey
items that wander into the cover area and seldom searches actively (Brattstrom 1952,
Stebbins 1954) Territoriality/Home Range
The home range is restricted to the cover site and the area immediately
adjacent to it (Miller 1951). Both males and females are territorial during
the breeding season (Miller 1951). Predator-Prey Relations
Predators probably include most larger lizards (Crotaphytus, Gambelia,
Sceloporus, etc.), many snakes, and predatory birds. Literature Cited
Brattstrom, B. H. 1952. The food of the night lizards, genus Xantusia. Copeia 1952:
168-172.
Cowles, R. B. 1944. Parturition in the yucca night lizard. Copeia 1944:98-100.
LaPointe, J. L. 1966. Investigation of the function of the parietal eye in relation to
locomotor activity cycles in the lizard Xantusia vigilis. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. California,
Berkeley. 95pp.
Mautz, W. J., and T. J. Case. 1974. A diurnal activity cycle in the granite night lizard,
Xantusia henshawi. Copeia 1974:243-251.
Miller, M. R. 1948. The seasonal histological changes occurring in th ovary, corpus luteum,
and testis of the viviparous lizard, Xantusia vigilis. Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool. 47:197-224.
Miller, M. R. 1951. Some aspects of the life history of the yucca night lizard Xantusia
vigilis. Copeia 1951:114-120.
Stebbins, R. C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill,
New York. 536pp.
Information gathered from California DFG - California Interagency Wildlife Task Group
