Common Sagebrush Lizard: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Small Hunters · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. When scared, sagebrush lizards dash into cracks, bushes or rodent burrows. One researcher even saw them keep still and play dead.
2. High-elevation sagebrush lizards grow faster even though they have 400 hours less seasonal activity.
3. A female lays her eggs about 2.5 cm down in loose soil, usually at the foot of a shrub.
4. Sagebrush lizards live from 150 m up to 3,200 m high, in sagebrush, conifer forests and even sandy dune areas.
5. They bask on the ground, on low branches or low boulders, and in most places stay active from March or April to late September or early October.

The quiz

1. What can a threatened sagebrush lizard do besides run?

• Puff up like a balloon
• Dive underwater
• Play dead (correct)
• Sing loudly

One researcher saw them keep still and play dead when in danger.

2. How many hours less activity do high-elevation lizards have?

• 400 hours (correct)
• 40 hours
• 4,000 hours
• 4 hours

They have 400 hours less seasonal activity, yet grow faster.

3. Where do females bury their eggs?

• Inside rotting logs
• In loose soil at the base of a shrub (correct)
• In wet mud by a river
• Under flat rocks high up a cliff

Eggs go about 2.5 cm deep in loose soil, usually at the foot of a shrub.

4. What is the highest altitude they have been found at?

• 320 m
• 32,000 m
• 1,500 m
• 3,200 m (correct)

They live from 150 m up to 3,200 m.

5. Until about when are they active in most places?

• Late September or early October (correct)
• Early June
• Mid-December
• Late January

In most places they are active from March or April to late September or early October.

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