New Baja Blue Rock Lizards Bring Sunshine to the Zoo

The new lizards are both 4-year-old males that arrived in late October from the Los Angeles Zoo. Their names, Baja Blast and Baja Splash (after the popular limited-edition sodas), fit right in with the names of the ARC’s other resident lizards: Quesadilla, Chimichanga, Potato Olé, and Guacamole. Baja Blast and Splash are a bit tricky to tell apart, although Baja Blast lost the tip of his tail at some point before arriving at MCZ. The tail tip regrew, but it’s slightly different in color, compared to Baja Splash’s tail.

Guests can see them in the shared habitat with the Gila monsters and chuckwallas, other desert lizard species. The animal care team notes that Baja Blast and Splash are settling in well and exploring the habitat. They’re also great climbers and have even been spotted climbing on the ceiling of the habitat!

Fast Facts:

• Baja blue rock lizards live only on the tip of the Baja California peninsula in northwestern Mexico, in rocky, lightly-vegetated areas.
• They’re blue-gray with a speckled banding pattern across the back. Their face and tail are often the brightest blue, and their head and neck may also feature vibrant red, orange, and yellow highlights.
• Size is 7-10 inches long.
• Lifespan is an average of 15-20 years.
• At MCZ, they eat a diet of insects and “lizard salad,” a blend of nutritious greens. In their natural habitat, their diet also includes flowers and leaves.
• The species is currently listed as Stable in the wild, although its small geographic range could make it more vulnerable.

Stop by their habitat in the ARC to meet Baja Blast and Baja Splash!