Plateau Spotted Whiptail
Aspidoscelis scalaris
The plateau spotted whiptail grows up to 9 inches and in other cases over a foot. It has four limbs with the hind limbs almost double the length of the forelimbs. It is c…
How to identify
The plateau spotted whiptail grows up to 9 inches and in other cases over a foot. It has four limbs with the hind limbs almost double the length of the forelimbs. It is covered on the back and sides with little granular scales of about the same size. The underbelly is covered with a much larger scale which looks platelike. In females it is light colored and dark blue in males coupled with an orange chin during mating. On the back are 6 or 7 pale tan stripes that run horizontally from the neck to the top of its tail. Numerous random spots find home between these lines,giving the whiptail its peculiar name. The tail which is over 60% of its total body length is rust colored and transforms into a bright blue color at the tip.
Range
The plateau spotted whiptail is endemic to the United States specifically the state of Texas. They can be seen in the Bend Region along the Rio Grande. Outside of the United States, they can be found in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon, Durango, Coahuila and northern San Luis Potosi.
Habitat
These 'racerunners' prefer arid canyon bottoms and rocky hillsides with spares vegetation. They are diurnal and referred to as racerunners because they are constantly moving, foraging for food in speed of short bursts except when threatened. They are cold-blooded and omnivorous. They eat small anthropods and plant materials. They are oviparous and mate only in summer after 'hibernating' in the long winter months. Females lay a clutch of eggs in water retaining soil which mature after about 5 months.
Similar species
The Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail or Aspidoscelis exsanguis is a medium-sized lizard which shares a lot of features with the plateau spotted whiptail. It's tail is not as brightly colored at the tip like the later. The Sonoran Spotted Whiptail or aspidoscelis sonorae is a lot smaller with less spots. The tail is usually brown, tan or orange tan. The Mexican plateau spotted whiptail or aspidoscelis septemvittata is a slender lizard with a long tail over 3 times its body length. It has a base coloration of dark green, dark brown, or black and white stripes which run into an orange hip/tail area.
Name and etymology
Scalaris: Latin for stairs or ladder
At a glance
Range
The plateau spotted whiptail is endemic to the United States specifically the state of Texas. They can be seen in the Bend Re…
Habitat
These 'racerunners' prefer arid canyon bottoms and rocky hillsides with spares vegetation. They are diurnal and referred to a…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap