Description

• Aspidoscelis is a genus of whiptail lizards in the family Teiidae. They are generally slender, active lizards with long tails, powerful hind legs, and relatively small heads. Colouration varies widely among species, often including brown, grey, greenish, or black backgrounds with pale longitudinal stripes, spots, or bands. Juveniles are frequently more vividly patterned than adults, and several species reproduce through parthenogenesis.

Range

• Aspidoscelis is primarily a North and Central American genus, ranging from the southern United States through Mexico into Central America. Mexico contains a particularly high diversity of species, including numerous forms along the Pacific coast and in Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region.

Habitat

• Species occupy a wide variety of warm, open habitats, including tropical dry forest, thorn scrub, grassland, savanna, woodland edges, sandy areas, rocky slopes, agricultural land, and disturbed ground. They are strongly terrestrial and are often seen actively foraging in sunny open areas.

Diet

• Aspidoscelis species are active, opportunistic predators that feed mainly on insects and other small arthropods, including ants, termites, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, and caterpillars. Larger individuals may also consume small vertebrates, eggs, fruit, or other available food.