Identification: Upper side striped or speckled, with smooth granular scales; external ear openings absent; two black marks on each side of belly; total length up to about 13 cm (5.1 inches); adults average about 5 cm (2 inches) in snout-vent length.

Mature male: Two enlarged scales on underside of tail just behind vent; black, blue-edged bars on belly; may have yellowish wash on sides.

Mature female: Black bars on belly lack blue edge; reproductive females during the breeding season have yellow-orange on throat and on sides of head and neck and orange on sides of body.

Habitat: Sandhills, plains grassland with a sparse cover of grass and low shrubs, prairie-dog towns, sandy or gravelly areas along streams, and other relatively flat areas with expanses of open ground. Uses rodent burrows for cover, or burrows into sand.

Life History: Females lay 1-2 clutches of eggs primarily in late May, June, and July. Hatchlings emerge as early as July or as late as September.