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Big Lizards
Big desert lizards include Gila monsters, chuckwallas and whiptails. Gila monsters are large compared to other desert lizards, and they are one of only two species of dangerously venomous lizards. Chuckwallas are bulky lizards that have loose folds of skin around the neck and shoulders, and whiptails surpass many lizards in length thanks to their long, slender tails. Skinks, on the other hand, are some of the smallest lizards you will find in the desert.
Fancy Lizards
Many of the lizards you will find in the desert can be easily identified by their fancy features. Fringe-toed lizards and leaf-toed geckos have fancy, easily identifiable feet that help them navigate sandy or rocky desert conditions. The scales of horned and spiny lizards have evolved to be longer, harder and pointer than those of other desert lizards. Collared desert lizards feature a distinct pattern around their neck that is markedly different from the rest of their body, and leopard lizards have skin that looks just like that of the big cat they are named after.
Lacking Lizards
Some desert lizards are named and identified by what they are lacking rather than what than embellished features or distinct color patterns. The greater and lesser earless lizards lack external ear openings, a mutation that helps them keep sand from entering their body while they dig. The California legless lizard looks like a small, striped snake, but their moveable eyelids, external ear openings and head shape classify them as lizards.
Banded Lizards
Banded rock lizards and banded geckos, which are lizards that have the ability to make sound, are easily identified by their bold striped skin patterns. These desert lizards feature striped skin patterns of natural tones, such as tan, black, brown and gray, to help them blend into their dry surroundings. Zebra-tailed lizards feature broad, black bands down their tails, and sometimes the pattern expands to cover their back, legs and neck.