Prairie Racerunner
Aspidoscelis sexlineata viridis
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- A. s. viridis – Galveston Co, TX – photo by Gary Nafis
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Aspidoscelis s. viridis occurs throughout most of eastern and central Texas, the Texas Panhandle region and eastern New Mexico. This species intergrades with Aspidoscelis s. sexlineata in far eastern Texas.
LEGAL STATUS: No Listings
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aspidoscelis sexlineata viridis (Lowe – 1966)
Genus: Aspidoscelis, Greek – aspido = shield + scelis (skelos) = leg – pos. ref. large shield-like scales on legs
Species: sexlineata, Latin – sex = six + lineatus = lined — ref. six longitudinal stripes on dorsum
Subspecies: viridis, Latin = green – ref. green coloration on upper body
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962