Probably does not require water, as it occurs in arid habitats. The Great Basin collared lizard occupies slopes, rock outcrops, gullies, washes and other areas with small vertical perches. It often sits on rock perches and watches for prey, predators, or perhaps conspecifics. It hibernates in winter, and may aestivate. Nothing is known about the size of home ranges of the Great Basin collared lizard.
Courtship occurs in early spring.
Mean clutch size was 5.4, and ranged from 3 to seven. Larger females produced larger clutches. Great Basin collared lizards are probably eaten by Masticophis, avian predators, and perhaps mammalian predators. The young are taken by loggerhead shrikes. Reproduction in three sympatric lizard species from west-central Utah.