Chihuahuan spotted whiptail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chihuahuan spotted whiptail |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Aspidoscelis
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| Species: |
exsanguis
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The Chihuahuan spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis exsanguis) is a type of lizard. It lives in the United States, specifically in southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and southwestern Texas. You can also find it in northern Mexico, in the states of Chihuahua and Sonora.
Scientists believe this lizard came about from different types of whiptail lizards mixing together. These include the little striped whiptail (Aspidoscelis inornatus), the plateau spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis septemvittatus), and the western Mexico whiptail (Aspidoscelis costatus). It's also special because it's one of the few lizard species that can reproduce without a male, a process called parthenogenesis.
What Does It Look Like?
The Chihuahuan spotted whiptail can grow to be about 9.5 to 12 inches long. That's about the length of a ruler! Its body is usually reddish-brown. It has six lighter stripes that run all the way down its back. You might also see spots between these stripes.
The underside of this lizard is white, but sometimes it can be a light blue color. It has a thin body and a very long tail. Its tail is almost three times longer than its body!
How Does It Live?
Like most whiptail lizards, the Chihuahuan spotted whiptail is active during the day. This means it's a diurnal animal. It mostly eats insects, so it's an insectivorous creature.
You can find this lizard in many dry places. These include deserts, dry grasslands, and dry forests. It also lives in woodlands with oak, pine, and juniper trees. It often makes its home in washes and canyons. When it's time to lay eggs, the female lizard digs holes in the ground.
Is It Endangered?
Good news! The Chihuahuan spotted whiptail is not considered a threatened species. This means there are plenty of them around.
- NatureServe. 2015. Aspidoscelis exsanguis. NatureServe Explorer Version 7.1.
Images for kids
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Chihuahuan spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis exsanguis), in its natural home in Culberson County, Texas (May 14, 2018)
,_Culberson_Co.,_TX,_14_May_2018.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Lagartija cola de látigo para niños
