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Lizards of Zihuatanejo

SUBORDER​ SAURIA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Reptiles (Class Reptilia)

-​Snakes and Lizards (Order Squamata)

-Lizards (Suborder​ Sauria)

-Whiptails and Tegus (Family Teiidae)

-Whiptails and Ameivas (Subfamily Teiinae)

-Whiptail Lizards (Genus Aspidoscelis)

-Mexican Racerunner (Aspidoscelis guttatus)


Aspidoscelis guttatus, commonly known as the Mexican Racerunner, is endemic to Mexico. It prefers dry and sandy habitats, and can often be found in open areas such as deserts, grasslands, and scrublands. It is an insectivore, feeding mainly on small arthropods such as beetles and grasshoppers. It has a distinct appearance, featuring a yellowish-tan base color covered in dark spots and stripes, with a blueish underside.

Mexican Racerunner

Aspidoscelis guttatus

Description

  • Aspidoscelis guttatus is a medium-sized whiptail lizard in the family Teiidae. It has a slender body, long powerful hind legs, a narrow head, and a long tail. Adults are typically brown, olive, or grey with pale spots or small blotches, while juveniles are often more strongly patterned with contrasting longitudinal markings.

Range

  • Aspidoscelis guttatus is endemic to western and southern Mexico, occurring along the Pacific slope from the coastal lowlands into adjacent foothills. Its range includes Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region.

Habitat

  • It inhabits tropical dry forest, thorn woodland, scrub, grassland, rocky areas, forest edges, clearings, and disturbed ground. It is primarily terrestrial and favours sunny open areas where it can bask and actively forage.

Diet

  • Aspidoscelis guttatus 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 consume other small invertebrates and seasonally available plant material.

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