Description: 2 3/8 - 5 inches inches long snout to vent,, up to around 13 inches total length. A slim-bodied lizard with a long slender tail, a pointed snout, and large symmetrical head plates. Scales on the back are small and granular, and scales on the tail are keeled. The belly is made of large, smooth, rectangular scales in 8 lengthwise rows. The tail can reach up to two times the length of the body. The back and sides are gray, tan, or brown, marked with dark spots or bars or mottling, which is often very sharply defined. Dark marks on the side don't form vertical bars. Usually 8 faint light brown stripes are present, but stripes on the side are sometimes indistinct. The throat is pale with with large black spots. Often there are reddish patches on the sides of the belly. The tail tip is dark or bluish. The tail tip is bright blue on juveniles. Juveniles have fairly well-defined stripes.
Habitat: Hot and dry areas with sparse foliage and open areas. Found in forests, woodland, chaparral, riparian areas.
Range: This subspecies is endemic to California, ranging throughout the Central Valley, west to the coast just north of the Monterey Bay, and south through the South Coast Range to Ventura County where there is a zone of intergradation with A. t. stejnegeri.
Diet: Small invertebrates, especially spiders, scorpions, centipedes, and termites, and small lizards.
Reproduction: Unlike some species of whiptails which are all females, there are male and female western whiptails. Males and females usually begin mating in May and females lay eggs shortly thereafter. Females lay one clutch of eggs per year. Eggs hatch from May to August.
Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of the large and relatively stable extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size. No major threats are known. Subspecies marmoratus is considered to be a distinct species by some authorities; as such, it also is Least Concern.
Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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