The Granite Night Lizard (Xantusia henshawi), or Lagartija nocturna de granito in Spanish, is a nocturnal, non-venomous lizard restricted to granite and rocky habitats, and it is very specialized. During a chaparral wildfire, the lizard will retreat to the safety of rock cliffs and crevices to wait out the heat and fire, re-emerging to a new, scorched landscape.

Only feeding on spiders and scorpions, the Granite Night Lizard is found from Riverside and San Diego Counties in southern California down to San Pedro Martir, Baja California, Mexico.

To learn more about the Granite Night Lizard, visit the Amphibian and Reptile Atlas of Peninsular California.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bradford D. Hollingsworth, SDNHM