Little striped whiptail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little striped whiptail |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Little striped whiptail (A. inornatus) | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Aspidoscelis
|
| Species: |
inornatus
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Cnemidophorus perplexus |
|
The little striped whiptail (Aspidoscelis inornatus) is a type of lizard found in the southwestern United States. You can find it in states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It also lives in northern Mexico, in areas like Chihuahua and Coahuila.
This lizard is called "little" because it's the smallest among many other whiptail lizards that have stripes. Scientists have studied this species a lot, especially in the 1990s. They are still learning new things about its different types, called subspecies.
Contents
What Does the Little Striped Whiptail Look Like?
The little striped whiptail grows to be about 6.5 to 9.5 inches long. That's roughly the length of a pencil! It usually has a black body with bright yellow or white stripes. These stripes run all the way from its head to its tail.
Its belly is often a light blue color. This lizard has a slender body and a very long tail. The tail can be about three times longer than its body. Males often have a much brighter blue tail than females. Sometimes, these lizards can be brown with darker spots. This helps them blend in with sand or dirt.
Behavior and Habitat
Like most whiptail lizards, the little striped whiptail is active during the day. It spends its days hunting for food. These lizards are insect-eaters. They love to munch on crickets and other small insects.
Little striped whiptails are very quick and energetic. If you get too close, they will dart away quickly to find cover. They can be found in many different places, called habitats. These include open grasslands and rocky hillsides in dry areas. They are very fast and can quickly hide under a cactus if they need to.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Little striped whiptails usually breed in the late spring. The females lay their eggs from May to July. Each clutch, or group of eggs, usually has 2 to 4 eggs. These eggs hatch about six weeks later.
Types of Little Striped Whiptails (Subspecies)
Scientists recognize several different types of little striped whiptails. These are called subspecies. Each subspecies might have slight differences in where they live or how they look. There are eight recognized subspecies of Aspidoscelis inornatus:
- Aspidoscelis inornatus chihuahuae
- Aspidoscelis inornatus cienegae
- Aspidoscelis inornatus heptagrammus - This one is also known as the Trans-Pecos striped whiptail.
- Aspidoscelis inornatus juniperus - This one is called the woodland striped whiptail.
- Aspidoscelis inornatus llanuras
- Aspidoscelis inornatus inornatus
- Aspidoscelis inornatus octolineatus
- Aspidoscelis inornatus paululus
Genus Cnemidophorus at The Reptile Database
