Common checkered whiptail
| Common checkered whiptail | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Teiidae |
| Genus: | Aspidoscelis |
| Species: | A. tesselata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aspidoscelis tesselata (Say, 1823)
| |
| Synonyms | |
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The checkered whiptail (Aspidoscelis tesselata) is a
Aspidoscelis sexlineata. It is one of many lizard species known to be parthenogenic
. It is sometimes referred to as the common checkered whiptail to differentiate it from several other species known as checkered whiptails.
Description
The checkered whiptail grows to a body length (head to back legs) of about 4 inches, with a tail length of 5-6 inches. Their pattern and base coloration varies widely, with brown or black blotching, checkering or striping on a pale yellow or white base color. Their rear legs often have dark spotting, and their underside is usually white with dark flecking on the throat area. They are slender bodied, with a long tail.
Behavior
Like other species of whiptail lizard, the checkered whiptail is
eggs
in mid summer, which hatch in six to eight weeks.