| Uma inornata |
| The Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard |
The difficulty of living in dunes, for a lizard, appears to have only a few solutions from an evolutionary perspective. In the
Namibian dunes in southwestern Africa there are two lizard species, not even closely related to our lizards, yet they have the
same fringed hind toes. Another lizard in the Saharan Desert dunes has the same adaptation. Here in North America there are
four other, closely related, species of fringe-toed lizards. The Mojave fringe-toed lizard, U. scoparia, is a denizen of sand dunes
from Death Valley National Park to the Palen Valley dunes; the Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard, U. notata, occurs from the
Algodones Dunes into the Gran Desierto of Sonora, Mexico, to northeastern Baja California, to southwestern Arizona. There are
two fringe-toed lizards in north-central Mexico, the Chihuahuan (U. paraphygas) and Coahuila (U. exsul) fringe toed lizards are
separated from other North American fringe-toeds by over a thousand of miles and millions of years, yet they still have the same
adaptations. Our fringe-toed lizard is only found here in the Coachella Valley. It is our responsibility to see that it thrives and is
enjoyed by generations to come.
Namibian dunes in southwestern Africa there are two lizard species, not even closely related to our lizards, yet they have the
same fringed hind toes. Another lizard in the Saharan Desert dunes has the same adaptation. Here in North America there are
four other, closely related, species of fringe-toed lizards. The Mojave fringe-toed lizard, U. scoparia, is a denizen of sand dunes
from Death Valley National Park to the Palen Valley dunes; the Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard, U. notata, occurs from the
Algodones Dunes into the Gran Desierto of Sonora, Mexico, to northeastern Baja California, to southwestern Arizona. There are
two fringe-toed lizards in north-central Mexico, the Chihuahuan (U. paraphygas) and Coahuila (U. exsul) fringe toed lizards are
separated from other North American fringe-toeds by over a thousand of miles and millions of years, yet they still have the same
adaptations. Our fringe-toed lizard is only found here in the Coachella Valley. It is our responsibility to see that it thrives and is
enjoyed by generations to come.
The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, also known by its Latin name, Uma inornata,
is a medium sized, whitish lizard whose entire range is restricted to the sand dunes
and dune hummocks of the Coachella Valley. Superbly adapted to the sand dunes,
fringe-toed lizards rarely if ever leave that habitat. Sand dunes are utterly
inhospitable to almost all life. Their parched dry surface is constantly moving,
making it almost impossible to set down roots, dig burrows or find food. The tiny
sand grains start moving in even moderate winds, acting in some ways as tiny
shards of glass, cutting and eroding every surface they encounter. Yet, despite
these barriers, some plants and animals live and even thrive on desert dunes.
is a medium sized, whitish lizard whose entire range is restricted to the sand dunes
and dune hummocks of the Coachella Valley. Superbly adapted to the sand dunes,
fringe-toed lizards rarely if ever leave that habitat. Sand dunes are utterly
inhospitable to almost all life. Their parched dry surface is constantly moving,
making it almost impossible to set down roots, dig burrows or find food. The tiny
sand grains start moving in even moderate winds, acting in some ways as tiny
shards of glass, cutting and eroding every surface they encounter. Yet, despite
these barriers, some plants and animals live and even thrive on desert dunes.
Fringe-toed lizards are among those that thrive on
the dunes. They get their name, of course, from
elongate scales on the toes of their hind feet that
look like fringes. These fringes act like miniature
snowshoes, giving the lizards extra traction to
speed away from predators on the loose sand
surface. The lizards also have fringes on their ears
to keep sand away from their eardrums (they could
have just as easily been called fringe-eared
lizards). The lizards' head is perfectly shaped to
allow them to dive head first into the soft sand,
actually "swimming" below the sand surface for a
few centimeters before they come to rest. This
behavior allows the lizards to disappear in to the
dune, leaving no trace behind and effectively
evading all predators. Once below the sand, the
lizards' noses are equipped with a structure that
allows the lizards to continue to breathe air, without
bringing sand into their lungs. Taken together,
these adaptations provide the fringe-toed lizards
with everything they need to live on dunes.
the dunes. They get their name, of course, from
elongate scales on the toes of their hind feet that
look like fringes. These fringes act like miniature
snowshoes, giving the lizards extra traction to
speed away from predators on the loose sand
surface. The lizards also have fringes on their ears
to keep sand away from their eardrums (they could
have just as easily been called fringe-eared
lizards). The lizards' head is perfectly shaped to
allow them to dive head first into the soft sand,
actually "swimming" below the sand surface for a
few centimeters before they come to rest. This
behavior allows the lizards to disappear in to the
dune, leaving no trace behind and effectively
evading all predators. Once below the sand, the
lizards' noses are equipped with a structure that
allows the lizards to continue to breathe air, without
bringing sand into their lungs. Taken together,
these adaptations provide the fringe-toed lizards
with everything they need to live on dunes.
The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard was listed as threatened by the
federal government and endangered by the state of California in 1980.
A system of preserves has created to provide sanctuary for the
fringe-toed lizards as well as the other dune adapted plants, insects,
and mammals unique to the Coachella Valley dunes. After an
agreement was reached with Riverside County and all the cities of the
Coachella Valley, in 1986 the Coachella Valley Preserve System was
officially opened. Where once there was 100 square miles of dunes in
the Coachella Valley, about four square miles have been protected.
The preserve protects the last remnants of one of the most interesting
and beautiful habitats this valley has to offer.
Dune protection also requires protecting the wind and sand flow into
the dunes. Floods are required to carve sand out of the mountains and
bring sand to the valley floor. If any part of that process is arrested, the
dunes stabilize. Sand and wind corridors have been some of the last
areas in the valley to develop because of their severe conditions, but
that could change. Conservation efforts are now focusing on those
severe but vital lands that will need to be protected if the dune
ecosystem will survive.
federal government and endangered by the state of California in 1980.
A system of preserves has created to provide sanctuary for the
fringe-toed lizards as well as the other dune adapted plants, insects,
and mammals unique to the Coachella Valley dunes. After an
agreement was reached with Riverside County and all the cities of the
Coachella Valley, in 1986 the Coachella Valley Preserve System was
officially opened. Where once there was 100 square miles of dunes in
the Coachella Valley, about four square miles have been protected.
The preserve protects the last remnants of one of the most interesting
and beautiful habitats this valley has to offer.
Dune protection also requires protecting the wind and sand flow into
the dunes. Floods are required to carve sand out of the mountains and
bring sand to the valley floor. If any part of that process is arrested, the
dunes stabilize. Sand and wind corridors have been some of the last
areas in the valley to develop because of their severe conditions, but
that could change. Conservation efforts are now focusing on those
severe but vital lands that will need to be protected if the dune
ecosystem will survive.
Wishful lizard watchers who see whitish lizards run across a road, or
down a desert wash have undoubtedly seen the much more common
desert iguana or a zebra-tailed lizard. Fringe-toeds are only found on
the dunes.
Staying on the dunes offers some real advantages. Since it is such a
harsh environment, there is little competition for space from other lizard
species. Plants that are able to send down roots on a dune usually
find abundant water just a few meters below the surface. Healthy
plants provide both vegetable and insect food for the fringe-toeds.
Fringe-toed lizard populations in the Coachella Valley vary in size from
year to year. At least part of that fluctuation can be explained by
variations in rainfall; when we have average and above average rain
the lizards breed well and their populations grow. The rains bring
ample food to the dunes in the form or annual flowers and insects.
During droughts the lizards forego much or their breeding activity, and
the population tends to drop. Scientists have monitored the lizard's
population since 1986. This has revealed many population ups and
downs. These population changes appear to coincide with rainfall
patterns. Those ups and downs are normal for animal populations
and within the established preserves the lizard populations look very
healthy.
down a desert wash have undoubtedly seen the much more common
desert iguana or a zebra-tailed lizard. Fringe-toeds are only found on
the dunes.
Staying on the dunes offers some real advantages. Since it is such a
harsh environment, there is little competition for space from other lizard
species. Plants that are able to send down roots on a dune usually
find abundant water just a few meters below the surface. Healthy
plants provide both vegetable and insect food for the fringe-toeds.
Fringe-toed lizard populations in the Coachella Valley vary in size from
year to year. At least part of that fluctuation can be explained by
variations in rainfall; when we have average and above average rain
the lizards breed well and their populations grow. The rains bring
ample food to the dunes in the form or annual flowers and insects.
During droughts the lizards forego much or their breeding activity, and
the population tends to drop. Scientists have monitored the lizard's
population since 1986. This has revealed many population ups and
downs. These population changes appear to coincide with rainfall
patterns. Those ups and downs are normal for animal populations
and within the established preserves the lizard populations look very
healthy.
Welcome to the Coachella Valley Preserve!
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