This species occupies arid and semiarid habitats in the foothills and canyons along the western margin of the Colorado Desert. It is most frequently encountered in habitats dominated by rocks and canyon walls. This lizard moves about on the vertical and under surfaces of rocks, foraging with great agility. These are diurnal lizards that shuttle between sun and shade and are active all day even in hot weather. They usually become active by mid-March and remain active until the end of summer.
Courtship begins shortly after emergence in early spring.
Eggs are laid in June and July. Few potential predators could pursue this lizard over the surfaces it normally traverses. The young may be taken by Crotaphytus and avian predators. A comparison of pattern os display of Urosaurus, Uta and Streptosaurus. Hain, M. L. 1965.