The checkered whiptail (''Aspidoscelis tesselata'') is a species of

lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...

found in the southwestern United States in Colorado, Texas and New Mexico, and in northern Mexico in

Chihuahua Chihuahua may refer to: Places *Chihuahua (state), a Mexican state **Chihuahua (dog), a breed of dog named after the state **Chihuahua cheese, a type of cheese originating in the state **Chihuahua City, the capital city of the state **Chihuahua Mun ...

and

Coahuila Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza), is one of the 32 states of Mexico. Coahuila borders the Mexican states of N ...

. Many sources believe that the species originated from the

hybridization Hybridization (or hybridisation) may refer to: *Hybridization (biology), the process of combining different varieties of organisms to create a hybrid *Orbital hybridization, in chemistry, the mixing of atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals *Nu ...

of the marbled whiptail, '' Aspidoscelis marmorata'', the plateau spotted whiptail, '' Aspidoscelis septemvittata'', and possibly the six-lined racerunner, '' Aspidoscelis sexlineata''. It is one of many lizard species known to be parthenogenic. It is sometimes referred to as the common checkered whiptail to differentiate it from several other species known as checkered whiptails.

Description

The checkered whiptail grows to a body length (head to back legs) of about 4 inches, with a tail length of 5-6 inches. Their pattern and base coloration varies widely, with brown or black blotching, checkering or striping on a pale yellow or white base color. Their rear legs often have dark spotting, and their underside is usually white with dark flecking on the throat area. They are slender bodied, with a long tail.

Behavior

Like other species of whiptail lizard, the checkered whiptail is diurnal and

insectivorous A robber fly eating a hoverfly An insectivore is a carnivorous animal or plant that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which can also refer to the human practice of eating insects. The first vertebrate insectivores were ...

. They are wary, energetic, and fast moving, darting for cover if approached. They are found in semi-arid, rocky

habitats In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

, normally in canyon lands or hilled regions. They are parthenogenic, laying up to eight unfertilized eggs in mid summer, which hatch in six to eight weeks.

References

*
Herps of Texas: ''Cnemidophorus tesselatus''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2866860 Aspidoscelis Fauna of the Southwestern United States Reptiles of the United States Reptiles of Mexico Reptiles described in 1823 Taxa named by Thomas Say