granite night lizard

The granite night lizard (Xantusia henshawi) is a small, secretive reptile belonging to the family Xantusiidae. These lizards are found in the southwestern United States and Mexico, often living under rocks and in crevices. They are characterized by their lack of eyelids, with a transparent scale covering their eyes, which they clean by licking.1

While often called "night lizards," they appear to be more active during the day, especially in darker environments. They are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young after a gestation period where a placenta forms. Despite their small size, typically less than 10 cm (4 inches) from snout to vent, night lizards are known for their long lifespans, potentially living up to 20 years. The granite night lizard specifically inhabits crevices and is known to move about during the day.1