Bell’s Dabb Lizard

Digs burrows

The Bell’s dabb lizard is a really good digger! It has powerful front legs that it uses to dig its burrows in the ground. When its body temperature is low and it wants to get warmer, it can flatten its body so that it can press as much of its body as possible on the heated ground. 

Lives outside the desert

The Bell’s dabb lizard lives in fairly dry areas near the desert. Because it eats mostly plants, it cannot live in the real desert. It needs to live where there is vegetation all year round. The Bell’s dabb lizard gets most of its water from the food it eats. 

Illegal trade

This lizard comes in several colours. The most common version is stripes of red, green or yellow. All the Bell’s dabb lizards that live here at Malmö Museums Aquarium come from a police raid on someone who bought and sold reptiles illegally. Unfortunately, illegal trade in reptiles is not uncommon.