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(Eumeces obsoletus)
Identification: Upper scales smooth, shiny, tightly overlapping, with rounded rear edge; scales along sides of body in diagonal rows; tail no more than 1.5 times as long as head and body; most adults with relatively short, regenerated tails; maximum size about 35 cm (13.8 inches) total length and 14.2 cm (5.6 inches) snout-vent length.
Adult: Upper scales pale with dark edges forming stripes or irregular pattern; males and females difficult to distinguish; sides of head of adult males slightly enlarged during breeding season; reddish marks on lips of some adults (probably males) during breeding season.
| Juvenile: Upper scales with dark edges forming a
regular netlike pattern; tail blue.
|
 |
Hatchling: Solid black; whitish and orange spots on
head; tail blue.
Colorado Distribution:
Most common in the Arkansas River
drainage in southeastern Colorado (to about 7,200 feet), also occurs northward
into the Republican River drainage and the South Platte River drainage in
extreme northeastern Colorado. Secretive; locally fairly common.
Habitat:
In southeastern Colorado, habitat
includes rocky slopes and outcrops, canyon bottoms, floodplains of streams, and
areas along irrigation ditches in prairie and semiwooded regions, usually in
sites near water. Found in sandhill habitats in northeastern Colorado.
Secretive, readily burrows under objects; usually found beneath rocks, logs,
wood, and other items on the ground; logs and rocks along streams or debris
around old, abandoned ranch buildings provide favorable
habitat.
Life History:
Females lay eggs in June-July and attend
them until after they hatch. Hatchlings begin to emerge in late July or early
August.
Revised: July, 24 2003