Western Whiptail

Range

The range of this whiptail spreads through northern Mexico and the western regions of the USA. Its range includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and, Utah.

Habitats

These whiptail lizards are often found in hot dry regions without so much foliage. They can also be found in woodlands, riparian environments, chaparral, or deserts. The desert populations thrive in vegetation like sagebrush and use burrows to shelter from the heat. They are a bisexual species and mating occurs in the early half of June or May (depending on if they are in the north or south respectively) for the eggs to hatch in the middle of August. Females lay one clutch a year. The whiptails par on insects, spiders, scorpions, butterflies, moths, crickets, grasshoppers and beetles.

Identification

The western whiptail is a long and slender lizard with small granular scales in its dorsal regions and a long, thin brown tail. It is medium-sized with an average length of 4.3 inches (snout-to-vent length) but can reach a total length of about 12 inches. The body has markings with dark reticulations and light-colored stripes. The scales on the tail are keeled, bigger and have a rectangular shape. The males have dark gray chests and throats. Hatchlings have an orange-yellow coloration and dark-brown stripes when they age to juveniles they spot a bright blue tail.

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