Native to: Collared Lizards are native to the American state of Texas and a few Mexican states such as Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.

Adult Size: The average adult size of the Collared Lizard is up to 14 inches in length.

Appearance: The Collared Lizard is among the brightest colored lizards in all of North America. The males have very prominent black bands on its neck. Males tend to have green bodies and the heads may be bright yellow. The males also have brightly colored throats with blue patches on their bellies and white, red, or even orange dots. The females are generally grey are fawn in color and only take on red speckling during breeding seasons.

Diet: Being mostly carnivorous, they eat live insects such as crickets, mealworms or waxworms. Vegetables and fruit should be 25 percent of adult diet and 50% of the juvenile diet. Feeding fruits and vegetables such as kale, collard and mustard greens, zucchini and shredded carrots with a calcium supplement twice a week will help keep your Collared Lizard healthy.

Ease of care: Collared Lizards are fairly easy to maintain. Be sure to clean out waste weekly and change bedding at least once a month.

Habitat: For adequate space use a 30 gallon or larger tank with a screen lid to provide the proper ventilation. The day time temperature should range from 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, with a basking zone ranging between 110 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Night time temperatures should range between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity is very important to your lizard's well being. Be sure to keep the humidity level at or near 35%. Also add a wood or rock hiding place in the cool area of the habitat. Use a daytime UVA/UVB fluorescent bulb for approximately 12 hours of light per day to help your pet process calcium.

Drink: Be sure to provide water in a shallow dish that cannot be tipped over. Mist all surfaces of the habitat once a day to maintain humidity.

Temperament: Collared Lizards born in captivity tend to be less aggressive towards humans but may bite at first. With frequent handling at a young age the lizard will soon become very tame.

Breeding: Collared Lizards mate around May or June and the female can lay between 3 to 7 eggs during mid-summer. After the female lays the eggs there is no parental care.