Aspidoscelis flagellicauda
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
REPTILIA |
SQUAMATA |
TEIIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Aspidoscelis flagellicauda |
| Species Authority: |
(Lowe & Wright, 1964) |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
Gila Spotted Whiptail |
|
| Synonym/s: |
Cnemidophorus flagellicaudus Lowe & Wright, 1964
|
| Taxonomic Notes: |
Reeder et al. (2002) examined phylogenetic relationships of the whiptail lizards of the genus Cnemidophorus based on a combined analysis of mitochondrial DNA, morphology, and allozymes. They determined that Cnemidophorus in the traditional sense is paraphyletic and thus in need of nomenclatural revision. Rather than subsume all cnemidophorine species (including Kentropyx) in a single large genus (Ameiva), they proposed a split that placed the North American "Cnemidophorus" clade in the monophyletic genus Aspidoscelis; under this arrangement, South American taxa remain in the genus Cnemidophorus.
This species was previously confused with C. exsanguis and C. sonorae (Behler and King 1979). It appears to comprise a complex of groups having different origins through hybridization (Frost and Wright 1988). |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Least Concern
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2007 |
| Assessor/s: |
Hammerson, G.A. |
| Reviewer/s: |
Cox, N., Chanson, J.S. & Stuart, S.N. (Global Reptile Assessment Coordinating Team) |
Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its relatively wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.
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Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
This species is endemic to the southwest of the United States. Its range includes central and southeastern Arizona (from Cerbat and Hualapai mountains to the Gila River Basin) and southwestern New Mexico (Stebbins 2003). Elevational range extends from 1,220 to 1,980 m (4,000 to 6,500 feet) (Stebbins 2003). Hulse (1973) reported this species (under the name Cnemidophorus exsanguis) as common at elevations of 1,060 to 1,515 m in east-central Arizona.
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| Countries: |
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| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
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Population
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| Population: |
This species is represented by many occurrences or subpopulations. The total adult population size is unknown but very probably exceeds 10,000, probably much more. The extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size are probably relatively stable.
|
| Population Trend: |
Stable
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Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
This lizard inhabits pinyon-juniper and oak woodlands, chaparral, and riparian woodland extensions into desert-grassland ecotones (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Stebbins 2003).
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
No major threats have been identified.
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Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
This species occurs in at least several areas that are adequately protected.
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