These lizards are grey to sandy brown, usually with a series of paired dark gray spots down the back, becoming black crossbands on the tail.

During the hottest times of day, lizards may stand alternately on two legs, switching to the opposite two as needed in a kind of dance.

This lizard burrows into fine sandy soil for retreat at night and usually seeks day shelter in the shade of bushes.

[citation needed] In summer, zebra-tailed lizards typically lay two to eight eggs, which hatch from July to November, but more than one clutch can be laid during a season.

Being a prey species for many animals, including birds, other lizards, and mammals, they have a fairly high reproductive rate.

[citation needed] Zebra-tailed lizards are common and widely distributed throughout the Southwestern United States, ranging from the Mojave and Colorado deserts north into the southern Great Basin.