If you’ve ever seen a lizard scurrying around your backyard or garden, you may have wondered – where do lizards go when it’s time to sleep? Understanding lizard sleeping habits can provide fascinating insight into these remarkable reptiles that share our world.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Lizards sleep in a variety of places like underground burrows, crevices, under rocks or logs, and even on branches or leaves of trees and shrubs. The specific sleeping spot depends on the lizard species and habitat.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the sleeping behaviors of different types of lizards and the clever ways they find rest. Discover where lizards like geckos, iguanas, chameleons, and more curl up when it’s time for shut eye.
Whether you want to learn more about the lizards in your own backyard or gain appreciation for these adaptable creatures, read on to uncover the secrets of lizard slumber.
Lizards Seek Shelter and Safety While Sleeping
Avoiding Predators and Temperature Extremes
Lizards need to be wary of predators like birds, snakes, and small mammals that may eat them while sleeping (source). To avoid becoming prey, lizards often squeeze into tiny cracks in rocks, trees, or human-made structures.
These cramped hiding spots keep lizards out of sight and out of reach from predators.
In addition to hiding from hungry predators, lizards also need shelter from temperature extremes (source). Being cold-blooded, they require external heat sources to maintain body temperature. If it gets too cold at night, they may become lethargic and easy targets.
On hot days, they can overheat if fully exposed. Tucked away safely in crevices, lizards can moderate their body temperature by absorbing or releasing heat slowly from their immediate surroundings.
Camouflage and Inconspicuous Locations
When hiding spots are scarce, some lizards rely on camouflage instead. The color and patterns on a lizard’s scales help it blend into its surroundings seamlessly. For example, the Texas horned lizard’s yellowish-brown skin with dark blotches mimics the sandy habitat it lives in (source).
By staying incredibly still, camouflaged lizards can sleep in the open while going practically unseen.
In addition to visual concealment, lizards may choose sleeping spots that are simply inconspicuous. Leafy branches in dense vegetation provide cover while still allowing air circulation for temperature regulation. Some lizards even burrow into loose topsoil or hide under rocks.
These primitive shelters let lizards sleep safely but remain close to ideal daytime habitats.
Common Places Lizards Sleep
Underground Burrows
Many lizards such as skinks, monitors, and night lizards sleep in underground burrows to avoid predators and regulate their body temperature. These species dig tunnels using their strong front legs, sometimes commandeering old rodent burrows.
The depths provide safety, while the insulation helps them conserve energy. For example, Gila monsters and beaded lizards may occupy the same den for months at a time when inactive.
Crevices and Cavities
Hiding out in crevices allows arboreal and rock-dwelling lizards to avoid threats. Species like anoles, geckos, and chameleons wedge themselves into narrow gaps in trees, rocks, and man-made structures.
Their compressed bodies allow them to take advantage of small spaces that larger predators can’t access. Cavities also shelter lizards from cold winter temperatures and hot summer heat.
Under Objects
Ground-dwelling lizards often sleep under objects like rocks, logs, leaf litter, and debris. The shelter blocks wind and precipitation while the insulated microclimate underneath regains heat at night.
Slow-moving reptiles like Gila monsters may be found sleeping under the same rock for months during cooler parts of the year. Even active foragers like frilled dragons and basilisks only emerge to feed before retreating to their covered dens.
On Plants
Arboreal species like chameleons, anoles, and geckos sleep while clinging to branches and leaves using specialized toepads. The limbs of chameleons even have muscle locks allowing them to sleep perched overnight without expending energy.
Sleeping on plants provides quick access to insect prey but keeps lizards hidden from aerial predators. Their cryptic coloration mimics bark and foliage as camouflage from below. Studies suggest tree-dwelling lizards sleep lighter and more alert than ground-dwellers as an adaptation against threats.
Lizard Sleeping Habits by Species
Geckos
Geckos are nocturnal lizards that sleep during the day and become active at night. They typically sleep inside crevices, under rocks or bark, or in other protected areas to avoid predation. Many geckos can sleep in awkward positions, even upside down or vertically on a wall!
Their toe pads allow them to firmly grip surfaces while sleeping. Typically, geckos sleep between 8-10 hours per day and may take short naps in addition to their main sleep period. Some interesting gecko sleeping facts:
- Leopard geckos like sleeping in humid hide boxes filled with moss or bark.
- Crested geckos sleep on the sides of vivariums or in bamboo tubes.
- The Tokay gecko sleeps with its head pointing downward while clinging vertically to a tree trunk.
Iguanas
Iguanas are diurnal lizards that are active during the day and sleep at night. Green iguanas and other tree-dwelling species sleep on branches in the forest canopy. They wedge themselves into the forks and angles of branches to feel secure while sleeping.
Ground-dwelling iguanas like the desert iguana sleep in underground burrows, rock crevices, or holes dug beneath bushes. These locations help keep them safe from predators and extreme daytime heat. Iguanas typically sleep 6-10 hours per night. Here are some fascinating iguana sleeping facts:
- Baby green iguanas sleep together in “pods” of up to 20 individuals for safety.
- Spiny-tailed iguanas sleep in family groups of one dominant male and several females.
- Chuckwallas are known to take mid-day siestas during especially hot weather.
Chameleons
Chameleons are mostly arboreal lizards that sleep at night high up in trees. They grasp branches with their curved feet and prehensile tail and often flatten their bodies to stabilize themselves while sleeping. The veiled chameleon sleeps with its eyes half-open and mouth agape!
Chameleons prefer sleeping sites sheltered by dense leaves or branches. Some chameleons also dig shallow sleeping burrows in soil or leaf litter on the forest floor. Here are some interesting chameleon sleeping facts:
- Panther chameleons turn dark colors at night to aid camouflage while sleeping.
- Jackson’s chameleon sleeps with all four feet on the same side of a branch.
- Pygmy leaf chameleons sleep in rolled up leaves to avoid predators.
Anoles
Anoles are small, territorial lizards found throughout the Americas. Brown anoles and green anoles sleep on branches or twigs in dense vegetation. They wedge themselves into crevices and angles and use their adhesive toe pads to cling on while sleeping.
The Cuban brown anole reportedly “sleep swims” at night by floating on the surface of water while sleeping! Most anoles sleep at night and are active during the day. Here are some cool anole sleeping facts:
- The slender anole sleeps alone inside furled leaves of bromeliads and heliconias.
- Bark anoles hide in crevices behind peeled bark on trees while sleeping.
- Knight anoles sleep in the axils of banana leaves located near the trunk.
Skinks
Skinks are a highly diverse lizard family with both terrestrial and arboreal species. Most skinks are diurnal and sleep at night in sheltered spots. Smaller skinks like blue-tailed skinks sleep in leaf litter, under debris, or in burrows in the soil.
Larger skinks like blue-tongued skinks sleep in rock crevices, hollow logs, or abandoned mammal burrows. Tree-dwelling skinks like the prehensile-tailed skink sleep wedged on branches or in tree hollows. Here are some interesting skink sleeping facts:
- The Solomon Islands skink nestles in tree holes lined with its shed skin.
- Sleepy lizards (a type of blue-tongued skink) plug their burrow entrances with soil while sleeping!
- The crocodile skink sleeps in crab burrows in mangrove habitats.
When Do Lizards Sleep?
Lizards exhibit a variety of sleeping habits depending on the species. Here is an overview of when different types of lizards tend to sleep:
Diurnal Lizards
Most lizards, like iguanas, anoles, and agamas are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. These lizards typically sleep at night when temperatures drop and there is less light available for basking and hunting.
Specifically, diurnal lizards often sleep from dusk until dawn. They can sleep for over 12 hours straight at night. Some diurnal lizards will also take short naps during particularly hot midday periods.
Nocturnal Lizards
Nocturnal lizards like geckos tend to sleep during the day and become active from dusk until dawn. For example, leopard geckos typically sleep soundly tucked away in hides or burrows during daylight hours.
Nocturnal geckos may sleep over 14 hours during the daytime before emerging at night to hunt insects and spiders.
Crepuscular Lizards
Crepuscular species are most active during dawn and dusk. Examples include the chuckwalla and fringe-toed lizard. Rather than sleeping through entire day or night cycles, these lizards tend to take short 1-3 hour naps at different intervals.
So while crepuscular lizards are awake more often, they sleep in shorter spurts compared to strictly diurnal or nocturnal species.
How Long Do Lizards Sleep?
Lizards demonstrate a wide range of sleeping habits when it comes to duration and times. Factors like species, age, environment, and time of year all impact how long lizards sleep.
Species Differences
There are over 6,000 lizard species, and their sleep requirements vary greatly. Smaller lizards like anoles may only sleep around 8 hours a day. Larger lizards like monitors and iguanas often sleep over 10 hours. Nocturnal geckos are known for sleeping during the day and being active at night.
Temperature also influences sleep – lizards slow down in colder weather and sleep more. Here’s a quick overview of sleep times for common lizards:
- Anoles – about 8 hours
- Geckos – diurnal species around 8 hours, nocturnal species around 12 hours
- Bearded dragons – 10-12 hours
- Iguanas – 10-12 hours
- Monitors – 12+ hours
Age Differences
Younger lizards tend to sleep more than adults. Baby lizards may sleep up to 18 hours a day as they grow and develop. Juvenile lizards sleep around 12 hours typically. As lizards reach adulthood, their sleep needs decrease to around 8-10 hours for smaller species and 10-12 hours for larger species.
Seasonal Differences
Lizards often sleep more in cooler weather and less in warmer weather. During winter months or cooler seasons, lizards may sleep over 12 hours a day. They become less active as temperatures drop. In spring and summer, lizards are more active and sleep around 8-10 hours a day on average.
This allows them to bask, hunt, and mate during the warmer daylight hours.
Brumation is another factor – this is similar to hibernation for reptiles. Many lizards in cold climates brumate through winter months, and may sleep up to 20 hours a day during this period.
Environmental Factors
Habitat and environment also impact lizard sleeping habits. Lizards in captivity with stable temperatures and controlled conditions tend to be more active and sleep less than wild lizards. Wild lizards expend more energy regulating their body temperature and avoiding predators, so they need more sleep to recover from these stressors.
Access to UVB lighting is another consideration – lizards like bearded dragons require regular exposure to replicate sun in order to properly synthesize vitamin D3. Too little UVB can make them lethargic and sleep more.
Conclusion
Lizards employ clever sleeping strategies tailored to their environments and lifestyles. By burrowing underground, tucking into crevices, camouflaging themselves under objects, and curling up on vegetation, lizards find safe spots to get their necessary rest while avoiding predators.
Understanding where different types of lizards sleep provides fascinating insight into how these reptiles survive and thrive worldwide. Whether sleeping in a hollow log like a gecko or hanging from a branch like a chameleon, lizards retreat to their hidden sleeping quarters each night before emerging again with the sun.
The next time you spot a lizard darting through your yard, consider where it returns when darkness falls to get its beauty rest!
