# New Mexico Whiptail (*Aspidoscelis neomexicanus*) The New Mexico Whiptail is a fast and colorful lizard that loves to run! It has a long tail and can be found darting around in the warm sun, making it a fun sight to see in the wild. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Desert ![New Mexico Whiptail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/New_Mexico_Whiptail_%28Aspidoscelis_neomexicana%29_-_Flickr_-_GregTheBusker.jpg&width=800) Photo: Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Mexico_Whiptail_%28Aspidoscelis_neomexicana%29_-_Flickr_-_GregTheBusker.jpg) ## Appearance The New Mexico Whiptail is a slender lizard with a very long tail, often twice its body length. It typically has six pale yellow or white stripes running down a dark brown to black body. Its underside can be yellowish or orangish, especially on the belly and throat. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Teiidae - **Genus:** Aspidoscelis ## Interesting facts - Every New Mexico Whiptail is a female, who lays eggs that hatch into her exact copies! - Their long, whip-like tail can be twice as long as their body! - They sometimes pretend to be fighting males, which helps stimulate egg production! - This lizard loves to dig burrows under rocks or plants to hide from predators! ## Special abilities - **Clone Power:** New Mexico Whiptail can produce baby lizards all by herself, creating exact genetic copies! - **Tail Escape:** New Mexico Whiptail can detach its tail to distract predators, giving it time to flee to safety. - **Desert Dash:** New Mexico Whiptail can run at high speeds across sandy terrain to chase prey or escape danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 16-23 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 45-60 days ## Diet & Feeding These quick lizards mostly munch on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** Termites, Grasshoppers, Beetles, Spiders, Crickets, Larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Greater Roadrunner](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greater-roadrunner) (*Geococcyx californianus*) — A quick bird that preys on lizards in the desert. - **Eaten by:** [Gopher Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-snake) (*Pituophis catenifer*) — A common snake predator in its habitat. - **Hunts:** [Eastern Subterranean Termite](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-subterranean-termite) (*Reticulitermes flavipes*) — A primary food source found in decaying wood. - **Hunts:** Western African Cricket (*Gryllus assimilis*) — Regularly eaten by whiptails in their environment. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't try to catch lizards; it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify New Mexico Whiptail? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is New Mexico Whiptail? 16-23 cm ### How much does New Mexico Whiptail weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does New Mexico Whiptail live? 3-5 years ### How fast can New Mexico Whiptail move? 25 km/h ### What does New Mexico Whiptail eat? These quick lizards mostly munch on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. ### Where is New Mexico Whiptail usually found? Desert ### How does New Mexico Whiptail hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Rio Grande Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rio-grande-botanic-garden-new-mexico) — New Mexico, US · Zoo ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [New Mexico Whiptail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/new-mexico-whiptail)