# Plateau Striped Whiptail (*Aspidoscelis velox*) The Plateau Striped Whiptail is a lively lizard known for its beautiful stripes! It loves to run fast and can often be seen darting around in the sun, making it a fun creature to spot. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Plateau Striped Whiptail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aspidoscelis_velox_-_Flickr_-_aspidoscelis_%283%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aspidoscelis_velox_-_Flickr_-_aspidoscelis_%283%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Plateau Striped Whiptail is a slender lizard featuring a brown or black body adorned with light yellow or white stripes running down its back and sides, often with small spots between them. It has a distinctive long, whip-like tail that is usually twice the length of its body, and a pointed snout. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Teiidae - **Genus:** Aspidoscelis ## Interesting facts - If a tail is lost, it can grow back, though sometimes it looks a little different! - Its long, thin tail is perfect for balancing while it zips around looking for food. - Some scientists call it "mother-only" reproduction, meaning no dads are needed! - These lizards spend their days constantly on the move, always searching for tasty bugs. ## Special abilities - **Tail Escape Artist:** Plateau Striped Whiptail can drop its tail if caught by a predator, which wiggles to distract them, allowing the lizard to escape. - **Self-Replication Power:** Plateau Striped Whiptail has a unique ability to reproduce without a male, laying eggs that hatch into genetically identical daughters. - **Speedy Burrower:** Plateau Striped Whiptail can quickly dig into loose soil or under rocks to find shelter or escape danger thanks to its strong front limbs. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-4 - **Incubation:** 45-60 days ## Diet & Feeding They feast on a variety of tiny insects and other arthropods they find scurrying on the ground. - **Primary Foods:** grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, beetles, termites, larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Gopher Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-snake) (*Pituophis catenifer*) — Common predator in its habitat. - **Eats:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Hunts lizards from above. - **Eats:** [Greater Roadrunner](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greater-roadrunner) (*Geococcyx californianus*) — Fast bird that preys on lizards. - **Eaten by:** [Western Harvester Ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-harvester-ant) (*Pogonomyrmex occidentalis*) — A food source for the lizard. - **Eaten by:** [Darkling Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/darkling-beetle) (*Eleodes obscura*) — Commonly hunted for food. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [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 Always watch lizards from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Plateau Striped 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 Plateau Striped Whiptail? 15-25 cm ### How much does Plateau Striped Whiptail weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Plateau Striped Whiptail live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Plateau Striped Whiptail move? 25 km/h ### What does Plateau Striped Whiptail eat? They feast on a variety of tiny insects and other arthropods they find scurrying on the ground. ### Where is Plateau Striped Whiptail usually found? Grasslands ### How does Plateau Striped Whiptail hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/navajo-nation-zoological-and-botanical-park) — Arizona, US · Zoo - [Mesa Verde Administrative District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesa-verde-administrative-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District ## 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: [Plateau Striped Whiptail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plateau-striped-whiptail)