The Long-nosed leopard Lizard, Gambelia wislizenii, is a relatively large lizard ranging from 3 1/4-5 3/4 inches (8.2-14.6 cm). It has a large head, long nose, and a long round tail that can be longer than its body. It is closely related to the "Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard" which closely resembles the Long-nosed Leopard lizard in body proportions, but has a conspicuously blunt snout. They were once considered part of the genus Crotaphytus. The epithet wislizenii is in honor of the German-American surgeon and naturalist Frederick Adolph Wislizenius, who caught the first specimen near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Ten Facts about Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
- The female is about 5.8 inches and the male is smaller, measuring about 4.8 inches.
- Males develop pink or rusty wash on the throat, chest, and sometimes the body, during the breeding season.
- During the mating season females will develop reddish orange spots and bars on their sides and underneath the tail when gravid.
- The "Long-nosed Leopard Lizard" preys on small lizards, in addition to insects and sometimes rodents, like all members of the family.
- Some predators of "Long-nosed Leopard Lizards" include a number of birds, snakes, coyotes, badgers, the Kit fox and more.
- The breeding season extends from May to June with a single clutch of 5-6 eggs being laid usually in the months of June and July.
- When prey comes too close it uses a rapid pouncing movement to capture the prey in its strong jaws.
- These lizards have been documented to jumping up to two feet in any direction.
- The "Long-nosed leopard Lizard" prefers to inhabit arid and semiarid plains growth, like bunch grass, alkali bush, sagebrush, creosote bush and other scattered low plants.
- The lifespan is 8-10 years.
