🌍 Geographic Range: 

Smeringurus vachoni is endemic to the southwestern United States, primarily found in California, Nevada, and Arizona.
Its distribution includes counties such as San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, and Imperial in California; Clark County in Nevada; and Mohave, La Paz, and Yuma in Arizona.

The species occupies arid and semi-arid desert regions, usually around mountain ranges, rocky hills, and plateaus. Genetic studies reveal that S. vachoni consists of multiple isolated populations, each associated with particular mountain systems or valleys reflecting a long history of separation by deserts, rivers, and climatic shifts.

During cooler, wetter periods of the past, suitable rocky habitats were more continuous; today, they are fragmented, producing strong local variation in appearance and genetics.

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🏡 Microhabitat Preferences:

Habitat Type

• A lithophilic (rock-dwelling) species strongly associated with talus slopes, cliffs, rocky hillsides, and outcrops.

• Most often found beneath flat rocks, inside crevices, or between layers of stone, rarely in open sand.

• Prefers compact, mineral-rich soils mixed with rock debris rather than loose dune sand.

Typical Conditions

• Elevation: generally mid- to low-elevation desert slopes and foothills.

• Substrate: hard-packed sand or clay between rocks; often stabilized by stones and fine gravel.

• Microclimate: refuges are cooler and slightly more humid than surrounding terrain, buffering against daily temperature extremes.

• Temperature range: very warm days, cooler nights; capable of tolerating wide fluctuations typical of desert mountain habitats.

Behavior in Habitat

• By day, S. vachoni hides deep within rock cracks or under slabs to avoid heat and desiccation.

• At night, it emerges to forage along rock faces and the bases of boulders, occasionally venturing onto adjacent firm ground.

• The species is adapted for navigating tight crevices, with a flattened body and strong, compact claws suited for gripping rocky surfaces.

Habitat Specialization

Unlike sand-dwelling relatives, S. vachoni relies on rock shelter rather than burrowing. Its flattened shape, cryptic coloration, and behavior all reflect specialization for a rocky environment.
Because suitable microhabitats are patchy, populations tend to be localized and genetically distinct, often restricted to individual mountain ranges or valleys.