Island Night Lizard
Xantusia riversiana
About
The Island Night Lizard (Xantusia riversiana) is an endemic reptile found only on the Channel Islands, specifically on Santa Barbara Island, San Nicolas Island and San Clemente Island.
Island Night Lizards are the most distinct vertebrates on the Channel Islands, an indication that they have been cut off from the mainland for a long period of time! They are not nocturnal animals (despite what their name may suggest) and live about 11 to 13 years, although some individuals have been estimated to be up to 30 years old.
After having been under federal protection for several decades, the remove non-native species from the islands, protect habitat for the lizard, and promote the restoration of native plants that provide habitat for the lizard, the island night lizard is flourishing.
Fun Facts
In the park, the island night lizard is found only on Santa Barbara Island.
The island night lizard gives birth to live young (as opposed to laying eggs), which is not common among reptiles.
During the course of their long lives, they accumulate a lot of injuries including regenerated tails, scale, and miscellaneous cuts, missing toes, eye injuries, infections and the presence of cactus spines.
All larger lizards have some injuries, while only about 1/3 of the smaller lizards do.
With their unusually low metabolic rate, the lizards do not have high energy demands and can live on about half the food that other similar-sized lizards require. Therefore, they have very small, overlapping home ranges.
