Description: 2 3/8 to 5 inches inches long snout to vent, up to around 13 inches total length. Appearance: 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. Color and Pattern: 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 sides often form vertical bars. Usually 4 faint light stripes are present along the back. These stripes fade with age. Often there are reddish patches on the sides of the belly. The throat is pale with with obscure black spots. The tail tip is dark or bluish.
Young: Juveniles have fairly well defined stripes. 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 - deserts, chaparral, sagebrush, woodland, and riparian areas. Avoids areas with dense growth.
Range: In California, this subspecies ranges from the Great Basin deserts in the north - the Honey Lake Basin and the Surprise Valley - east of the Sierras into the Mojave and Colorado Deserts
Diet: Eats 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 mate, usually beginning in May in the southern part of their range or in June in the northern part of the range, with females laying eggs in May or June. Females lay one clutch of eggs per year. Eggs hatch from June 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.
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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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