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 grey, 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 poorly-defined light brown stripes are present, but stripes on the side are less well-defined. 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..
Young: Some juveniles have fairly well-defined stripes, most notably in inland Orange County, but they also have other irregular spots and stripes that can be used to differentiate them from sympatric more fully-striped Aspidoscelis hyperythra. In the San Diego area, juveniles are spotted. The tail tip is bright blue on juveniles.
Habitat: Found in a variety of ecosystems, primarily hot and dry open areas with sparse foliage - chaparral, woodland, and riparian areas.
Range: This subspecies is found in coastal Southern California, mostly west of the Peninsular Ranges and south of the Transverse Ranges, and north into Ventura County. Ranges south into Baja California.
Diet: The western whiptail mostly eats insects, spiders, scorpions, lepidopterans, crickets, grasshoppers, and beetles. They use their jaws instead of their tongue to capture their prey.
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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