Description

• Aspidoscelis communis is a medium-sized whiptail lizard in the family Teiidae, commonly called the common whiptail. It has a slender body, long powerful hind legs, a narrow head, and a long tail. Adults are generally brown or olive with pale longitudinal markings, while juveniles can be more strongly striped and contrastingly coloured.

Range

• Aspidoscelis communis is endemic to western Mexico, occurring along the Pacific slope. Its range includes the coastal and foothill regions around Zihuatanejo.

Habitat

• It inhabits tropical dry forest, thorn woodland, scrub, grassland, forest edges, clearings, and disturbed areas. It is primarily terrestrial and favours sunny, open patches where it can bask and actively forage, often sheltering beneath rocks, logs, leaf litter, or other cover.

Diet

• Aspidoscelis communis is an active, opportunistic predator that feeds mainly on insects and other small arthropods, including ants, beetles, grasshoppers, termites, spiders, and caterpillars. It may also take other small invertebrates and occasionally fruit or other readily available food.