Description: This whiptail averages 3.4 inches from snout to vent. Like all whiptails, it has a pointed snout, plate-like scales on its head, granular body scales, and sharply keeled scales on its whip-like tail. It has 6 light longitudinal lines on a dark brown to black background from behind the eyes to the base of the tail, which is bright blue. Its legs, face, and ventrum are tinted pale blue.

Habitat: This species inhabits chaparral and woodland, with an upper limit in ponderosa pine parkland.

Range: This known range includes only Arizona, from the Grand Canyon and the Coconino Plateau eastward onto the Navaho Reservation; an apparently disjunct population occurs in the Mazatzal Mountains, Gila County, Arizona.

Found in these States: AZ

Diet: Invertivore

Reproduction: Eggs are laid probably in a nest dug in soil/underground. Oviparous

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, many locations, and presumed large population size, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to warrant listing in a more threatened category. Habitat degradation is a conservation concern in some areas.

Taxonomy: Following Sullivan et al. (2014), Crother (2017) recognize this taxon as a subspecies of A. inornata. This taxon was first described as a subspecies of Cnemidophorus inornatus (Aspidoscelis inornata). Crother et al. (2000, 2003, 2008) and Collins and Taggart (2002) treated it as a distinct species. Stebbins (2003) retained it in A. inornata. de Quieroz and Reeder (in Crother 2012) maintained it as a species.

For our informational purposes, we are retaining it as the species Aspidochelis pai.