Species profile
Desert Night Lizard
Xantusia vigilis
Identify Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app.
At a glance
Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 1,279 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Nevada, and Utah the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Gives birth to 1–3 live young rather than laying eggs.
- Has fixed, transparent eye scales instead of movable eyelids, like a snake.
- Spends most of its life concealed under Joshua tree debris and rock slabs.
- Can survive over 10 years in captivity despite its tiny 4-inch frame.
- One of the most secretive lizards in North America — rarely observed in the open.
Where Desert Night Lizard are seen
Background
The desert night lizard (Xantusia vigilis) is a night lizard native to southern California east of the Sierras and San Gabriel Mountains into Baja California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and extreme western Arizona.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Desert Night Lizard article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other reptiles on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Desert Night Lizard?
Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Desert Night Lizard?
Desert Night Lizard is Xantusia vigilis.
Are there fishing rules for Desert Night Lizard?
Desert Night Lizard does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Desert Night Lizard?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Desert Night Lizard along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.