Stats

Lifespan

5-8 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Desert

Range

North America

Movement

Running

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Speed

Status

Common

About

The Western Whiptail is a fast, alert lizard of arid Southwest scrublands, constantly flicking its long tail and darting tongue as it forages for insects. Unlike some related whiptail species that reproduce entirely by all-female parthenogenesis, this species reproduces sexually.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling

   A miniature reptile emerges from its egg already independent.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile sheds and grows, often duller-colored than adults.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown with adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Teiidae

Genus

Aspidoscelis

Species

Aspidoscelis tigris