Trans-Pecos striped whiptail

The Trans-Pecos striped whiptail (Aspidoscelis inornatus heptagrammus) is a subspecies of the little striped whiptail (Aspidoscelis inornatus) lizard. It is found in the semiarid, sandy habitats of the Chihuahuan Desert, in the United States from West Texas across southern New Mexico to Arizona, as well as northern Mexico. It is sometimes referred to as the Arizona striped whiptail or seven-striped whiptail.

Trans-Pecos striped whiptail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Teiidae
Genus: Aspidoscelis
Species:
Subspecies:
A. i. heptagrammus
Trinomial name
Aspidoscelis inornatus heptagrammus
(Axtell, 1961)
Synonyms

Cnemidophorus inornatus heptagrammus Axtell, 1961

Description

The Trans-Pecos spotted whiptail is gray or black in color, with six to eight yellow or white stripes which run along the body from head to tail. Unlike other species of whiptail lizards, they have no spotting between their stripes. Their undersides are white or pale blue in color, and often they have light blue on the sides of their heads and tails. They are thin-bodied, and have a tail that is typically almost three times the length of their bodies.

Behavior

Like most species of whiptail lizard, Trans-Pecos spotted whiptails are diurnal and insectivorous.

References


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