[3][4] P. vlangalii curls its tail and shows a patch on its underbelly as defense displays against conspecifics.

[4] Both males and females display their tail-tip badges and underbelly patches as a method of defending their territory against rival lizards.

[10] Because P. vlangalii is found on a plateau, it is adapted to an arid and semi-arid environment with sparse vegetation located 2000–4600 meters high.

[7] P. vlangalii's preference for desert habitats makes it a good indicator species for desertification of grassland areas.

The Tibetan plateau is known for its high altitude, cold temperatures, and dry atmosphere, which explains the lizard's burrow digging behavior.

P. vlangalii's range can also stretch north to the southern Arjin mountains and the Gansu province in China.

[11] P. vlangalii is one of the most common lizard species in its native range but its habitat is experiencing some loss for a variety of reasons.

[12] These losses in habitats, particularly around the periphery of a range, can lead to changes in the behavior or other phenotypic characteristics of the species.[12]P.

vlangalii lives in high densities where each lizard has its own burrow, but its overall home ranges overlap with those of others.

Habitat differentiation and contact between the species likely occurred due to the uplift or rising of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau millions of years ago, when many areas became arid and dry.

There is also additional evidence of possible historical hybridization events between these three species, such as shared haplotypes and high gene flow levels.

More recently, Phrynocephalus hongyuanensis was debated surrounding it being considered a potential subspecies but was ultimately placed in the main clade.

Males and females each have their own burrow, so they equally defend their own territory by using their tails to signal to rivals to not invade their space.

Juveniles tend to mainly use the display of waving their tail as a signal of defense rather than coiling or lashing.

Residents are usually found in the same small areas to defend their territory against rivals by displaying their tails and patches and chasing conspecifics.

Burrows are important for the survival of these lizards both during the summer (when they are most active and there are many predators) and winter (against the harsh cold).

[4] Among three populations of P. vlangalii that lived at different altitudes, the most abundant intestinal microbiota were bacteroidetes, firmicutes, and proteobacteria.

The types and amount of each micro biota found are affected by the geography and climate the lizard lives in.