Greater Earless Lizard: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Small Hunters · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. In a burst of speed, greater earless lizards can run on two legs, curling their banded tail up over their back.
2. Breeding males flash bright pink, orange or red on the front half of their bodies, and vivid green on the rear.
3. The skin of a greater earless lizard often mirrors the colour of the rocks and sand it lives on.
4. Females can lay up to four clutches a year, with two to nine eggs in each.
5. They dig burrows up to 15.3 cm deep in loose sand, or partly bury themselves in gravel when sand is scarce.

The quiz

1. How can a greater earless lizard run in a short burst of speed?

• On two legs (correct)
• Backwards
• Zigzagging underground
• On its belly only

In a burst of speed it can run on two legs, curling its banded tail over its back.

2. Which colours do breeding males flash on the front half of the body?

• Yellow or white
• Blue or purple
• Bright pink, orange or red (correct)
• Black or brown

Breeding males flash bright pink, orange or red up front.

3. What does the lizard's skin often mirror?

• The colour of the rocks and sand (correct)
• The colour of the sky
• The colour of its prey
• The colour of nearby plants

Its skin often mirrors the colour of the rocks and sand it lives on.

4. How many clutches can a female lay in a year?

• Only one
• Up to two
• Up to ten
• Up to four (correct)

Females can lay up to four clutches a year.

5. How deep can its burrows be?

• Up to 15.3 cm (correct)
• Up to 1.5 cm
• Up to 53 cm
• Up to 153 cm

It digs burrows up to 15.3 cm deep in loose sand.

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