Laredo Striped Whiptail

Range

Range stretches along both sides of the Rio Grande River on the southern half of the Texas-Mexico border.

Habitats

This species prefers semiarid disturbed open areas with sandy substrate, such as cultivated fields, weedy lots, dirt roadsides, and heavily grazed pastures.

Identification

Typical of whiptails, this species has a pointed snout, plate-like scales on the head, granular body scales, and sharply keeled scales on the long tail. It averages 6-11 inches in total length. It has 7 light lines on a dark background, stretching from the plate-like scales on the head to about halfway down the tail. The central 7th line may be incomplete, and there may be faint light spots between the lines. Its legs have light mottling on a dark background.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians