Species › Reptiles & Amphibians › Desert Night Lizard

Desert Night Lizard

Xantusia vigilis

CommonReptile & Amphibian
Illustration of Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis)

The Desert Night Lizard is a tiny, secretive lizard that lives under fallen Joshua tree logs and yucca debris. Despite its name, it is actually active during the day in shaded microhabitats. It gives birth to live young.

Habitat
Joshua tree woodland and yucca scrub in the Mojave Desert
Diet
Termites, ants, and small insects
How common
Common

Best time to see a Desert Night Lizard

The best time to see a Desert Night Lizard is February–May, when about 64% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,362 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Desert Night Lizard sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

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