Little White Whiptail Lizard
Aspidoscelis gypsi
-
- A. gypsi – Ortero Co, NM – photo by Gary Nafis
-
- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Aspidoscelis gypsi occurs only in one isolated population within the White Sands National Monument in south-central New Mexico.
LEGAL STATUS: The Aspidoscelis gypsi population within the National Monument, although not specifically listed, is protected.
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aspidoscelis gypsi (Wright & Lowe – 1993)
Genus: Aspidoscelis, Greek – aspido = shield + scelis (skelos) = leg – pos. ref. large shield-like scales on legs
Species: gypsi, Latin – ref. of the gypsum “sands” of its White Sands, NM habitat
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962