At a glance
Essentials
- Size
- It is a medium-sized lizard, with a maximum snout-vent length of 7.5 cm, excluding the tail. The range may vary with age, sex and population.
- Distribution
- It is endemic to the arid western coast of Peru.
- Habitat
- It inhabits dunes and coastal beaches, hyperarid habitats, ephemeral stream beds, and groups of *Tillandsia* inland, up to the foothills of the Andes.
- Diet
- It feeds on a wide variety of insects, mainly Hymenoptera (wasps, ants), Coleoptera (beetles), and insect larvae.
Observation guide
What to look for
- 01
It has slender limbs and a tail that exceeds the body in length.
- 02
Its coloration consists of white spots on a background of light and dark brown transverse bars, allowing it to camouflage in the sand.
Lighting, age and viewing angle can hide features. If identification affects consumption, handling or conservation, consult specialist sources.
Ecology
Description and characteristics
This lizard is characterized by having slender limbs and a tail longer than the body. Its coloration, composed of white spots on light and dark brown transverse bars, provides it with effective camouflage in the sandy substrate. It is an oviparous species that digs burrows up to one meter in length. Its diet is based on a wide variety of insects, with Hymenoptera (wasps and ants) and Coleoptera (beetles) being the most frequent groups in its feeding. Morphological studies indicate that, along with other Liolaemus species from the Pacific desert, it presents an evolutionary convergence in head shape, characterized by lateral widening and posteromedial elongation, suggesting an adaptation to the arid environments of the region.