Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Island Night lizard (Xantusia riversiana)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Xantusiidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The Island Night lizard grows to be between 5 and 8 inches long. They are among the largest of the Night lizard Species. They have no eyelids and their pupils are vertical. Cool. They are gray to yellowish brown with dark spots. Some have a light stripe with dark edges. The Island Night lizard is referred to as a soft-skinned lizard, as the scales are generally small and appears to be loose around the neck.

Lead Region:  California/Nevada Region (Region 8)
Date Listed: Sep 12, 1977

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 6 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
08/22/2006 71 FR 48900 48903 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Findings for Petitions To Delist the Island Night Lizard
11/03/2005 70 FR 66842 66844 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain 5-Year Reviews.
07/07/2005 70 FR 39327 39329 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain
08/11/1977 42 FR 40682 40685 Listing of Seven California Channel Island Animals and Plants; 42 FR 40682 40685 (San Clemente loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi; San Clemente broom, Lotus scoparius; San Clemente bushmallow, Malacothamnus elementinus; San Clemente Island larkspur, Delphinium kinkiense; San Clemente Island Indian paintbrush, Castilleja grisea; island night lizard, Klauberina riversiana; San Clemente sage sparrow, Amphispiza belli clementae)

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
01/26/1984 Recovery Plan for the Endangered and Threatened Species of the California Channel Islands View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Completion
    • 11/03/2005 70 FR 66842 66844 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain 5-Year Reviews.
  • Notice 5-year Review
  • Notice Comment Period Extension
    • 07/07/2005 70 FR 39327 39329 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    09/26/2006 Island Night Lizard 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Island Night lizard.

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Island Night lizard

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 1 of 1 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    08/22/2006 71 FR 48900 48903 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Findings for Petitions To Delist the Island Night Lizard
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 21, 2009