: They are carnivorous generalists. Roughly half their diet consists of lizards (like whiptails and desert iguanas), while the rest includes small mammals like kangaroo rats and even small birds.
While currently listed as a species of on the IUCN Red List , some regional populations, such as those in Kansas, are considered "Species in Need of Conservation" due to habitat fragmentation from agricultural development and urbanization. Arizona elegans (arenicola) - Animal Diversity Web arizona elegans
: Their lidless eyes have slightly vertical pupils, aiding their vision during twilight and nighttime activity. : They are carnivorous generalists
: They have a distinctive countersunk lower jaw, an evolutionary adaptation that prevents sand from entering their mouths while burrowing. some regional populations