Habitats include rocky limestone foothills with desert scrub vegetation such as creosote bush, acacia, and juniper (Degenhardt et al. 1996); canyons, creviced escarpments, and low earthen hills. The species is particularly common in areas of flat rock and succulent vegetative debris. When inactive, individuals hide under rocks, debris, or in crevices (Smith 1946, Bartlett and Bartlett 1999), and they may be found under debris near human habitations (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999). Eggs are laid probably underground or under rocks. The species also occurs on sand dunes.

Southern New Mexico (Degenhardt et al. 1996), southwestern Texas (Dixon 2000), and adjacent northern Mexico, where it is widely distributed south to northeastern Durango and southern Coahuila (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999, Stebbins 2003).

This species currently is not in need of any major conservation measures.