Scientific name Cnemidophorus exsanguis Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Suborder Sauria Genus Cnemidophorus Higher classification Cnemidophorus | |
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Similar Little striped whiptail, Aspidoscelis, Common Checkered Whiptail, Texas spotted whiptail, Cnemidophorus | ||
The Chihuahuan spotted whiptail (Cnemidophorus exsanguis, syn. Aspidoscelis exsanguis) 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.
Contents
The species is believed to be the result of extensive hybridization between the little striped whiptail, Cnemidophorus inornatus, the plateau spotted whiptail, Cnemidophorus septemvittatus, and the western Mexico whiptail, Cnemidophorus costatus. It is one of many lizard species known to be parthenogenetic.
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.
Conservation
This is not considered to be a threatened species.
