Common Checkered Whiptail Lizard
Aspidoscelis tesselata
-
- A. tesselata – Presidio Co, TX – photo by Gary Nafis
-
- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Aspidoscelis tesselata occurs in central and southern New Mexico and eastward into western and northern Texas
LEGAL STATUS: No Listings
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aspidoscelis tesselata (Say – 1823)
Genus: Aspidoscelis, Greek – aspido = shield + scelis (skelos) = leg – pos. ref. large shield-like scales on legs
Species: tesselata, Latin – tesselatus = checkered, tiled — ref. mosaic appearance of the adult color pattern
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962