Chihuahuan spotted whiptail

The Chihuahuan spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis exsanguis)[1] is a species of lizard native to the United States in southern Arizona, southern New Mexico and southwestern Texas, and northern Mexico in northern Chihuahua and northern Sonora.[2]

Chihuahuan spotted whiptail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Teiidae
Genus: Aspidoscelis
Species:
A. exsanguis
Binomial name
Aspidoscelis exsanguis
(Lowe, 1956)
Synonyms
  • Cnemidophorus sacki exsanguis
    Lowe, 1956
  • Cnemidophorus exsanguis
    Stebbins, 1985
Chihuahuan spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis exsanguis), in situ, Culberson County, Texas (14 May 2018)

The species is believed to be the result of extensive hybridization between the little striped whiptail, Aspidoscelis inornatus, the plateau spotted whiptail, Aspidoscelis septemvittatus, and the western Mexico whiptail, Aspidoscelis costatus. It is one of many lizard species known to be parthenogenetic.[2]

Description

The Chihuahuan spotted whiptail grows from 9.5 to 12 inches in length. It is typically a reddish-brown in color, with six lighter colored stripes that run the length of the body, with spotting between the stripes. The underside is white or sometimes pale blue. It is slender-bodied with a tail nearly three times its body length.

Biology

Like most whiptailed lizards, the Chihuahua spotted whiptail is diurnal and insectivorous.

This species can be found in many kinds of mostly arid habitat, including desert, desert grassland, dry basin forests, and oak, pine, and juniper woodland, where it lives in washes and canyons. It digs holes to lay eggs.[3]

Conservation

This is not considered to be a threatened species.[3]

References
  1. Aspidoscelis exsanguis. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
  2. Aspidoscelis exsanguis. Reptile Database.
  3. Hammerson, G.A., Frost, D.R. & Santos-Barrera, G. 2007. Aspidoscelis exsanguis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 01 March 2016.
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