Cnemidophorus inornatus heptagrammus
Encyclopedia
The Trans-Pecos Striped Whiptail (Cnemidophorus inornatus heptagrammus) is a subspecies
of the Little Striped Whiptail (Cnemidophorus inornatus
) lizard
. It is found in the semi-arid, sandy habitats
of the Chihuahuan Desert
, in the United States
from western Texas
across southern New Mexico
to Arizona
, as well as northern Mexico
. It is sometimes referred to as the Arizona Striped Whiptail or Seven-striped Whiptail.
. Unlike other species of whiptail lizards, they have no spotting between their stripes. Their underside is white or pale blue in color, and often they have light blue on the sides of their head and tail. They are thin bodied, and have a tail that is typically almost three times the length of their body.
and insectivorous
.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Little Striped Whiptail (Cnemidophorus inornatus
Cnemidophorus inornatus
The Little Striped Whiptail is a species of lizard found in the United States, in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and in northern Mexico in Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, and Nuevo León...
) lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
. It is found in the semi-arid, sandy habitats
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
of the Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from western Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
across southern New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, as well as northern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is sometimes referred to as the Arizona Striped Whiptail or Seven-striped Whiptail.
Description
The Trans-Pecos Spotted Whiptail is gray or black in color, with 6-8 yellow or white stripes which run along the body from head to tailTail
The tail is the section at the rear end of an animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage to the torso. It is the part of the body that corresponds roughly to the sacrum and coccyx in mammals, reptiles, and birds...
. Unlike other species of whiptail lizards, they have no spotting between their stripes. Their underside is white or pale blue in color, and often they have light blue on the sides of their head and tail. They are thin bodied, and have a tail that is typically almost three times the length of their body.
Behavior
Like most species of whiptail lizard, Trans-Pecos Spotted Whiptails are diurnalDiurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
and insectivorous
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
.