''Aspidoscelis'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

whiptail lizard Teiidae is a family of autarchoglossan lizards native to the Americas. Members of this family are generally known as whiptails or racerunners; however, tegus also belong to this family. Teiidae is sister to the Gymnopthalmidae, and both famili ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Teiidae Teiidae is a family of autarchoglossan lizards native to the Americas. Members of this family are generally known as whiptails or racerunners; however, tegus also belong to this family. Teiidae is sister to the Gymnopthalmidae, and both familie ...

Taxonomy

The

nomenclature Nomenclature (, ) is a system of names or terms, or the rules for forming these terms in a particular field of arts or sciences. The principles of naming vary from the relatively informal conventions of everyday speech to the internationally agre ...

for the genus ''Aspidoscelis'' was published by T.W. Reeder et al. in 2002. Many

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

that were formerly included in the genus '' Cnemidophorus'' are now considered ''Aspidoscelis'' based upon divergent characters between the two groups.

Etymology

The name ''Aspidoscelis'' literally means "shield-leg", from the Ancient Greek ' ("shield") and ' ("leg").

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid. *'' Aspidoscelis angusticeps'' - Yucatán whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis arizonae'' - Arizona striped whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis burti'' - canyon spotted whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis calidipes ''Aspidoscelis calidipes'', the Tepalcatepec Valley whiptail, is a species of teiid lizard endemic to Mexico. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q2866830 calidipes Reptiles described in 1955 Taxa named by William Edward Duellman Reptiles of Me ...

'' - Tepalcatepec Valley whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis carmenensis'' - Carmen Island whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis ceralbensis ''Aspidoscelis ceralbensis'', the Cerralvo Island whiptail, is a species of teiid lizard endemic to Jacques Cousteau Island in Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion ...

'' - Cerralvo Island whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis communis ''Aspidoscelis communis'', also known as the Colima giant whiptail, is a species of teiid lizard endemic to Mexico. References communis Reptiles described in 1878 Taxa named by Edward Drinker Cope Reptiles of Mexico {{Lizard-stub ...

'' - Colima giant whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis costatus ''Aspidoscelis costatus'', also known as the western Mexico whiptail, is a species of whiptail lizard endemic to Mexico, including Guerrero, Morelos, and Puebla in southern Mexico, as well as other Mexican states. Its range spans both temperate ...

'' - Mexico whiptail lizard *''

Aspidoscelis cozumela ''Aspidoscelis cozumela'', the Cozumel racerunner, is a species of teiid lizard endemic to Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to ...

'' - Cozumel racerunner *''

Aspidoscelis danheimae ''Aspidoscelis danheimae'', also known commonly as the Isla San José whiptail, the San Jose Island blue-throated whiptail, and ''el huico de la Isla San José'' in Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is endemic t ...

'' - Isla San José whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis deppii ''Aspidoscelis deppii'', known commonly as the blackbelly racerunner, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is native to Central America and southern Mexico. There are three recognized subspecies. Etymology The specific n ...

'' - blackbelly racerunner *'' Aspidoscelis dixoni'' - gray checkered whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis espiritensis ''Aspidoscelis'' is a genus of whiptail lizards in the family Teiidae. Taxonomy The nomenclature for the genus ''Aspidoscelis'' was published by T.W. Reeder et al. in 2002. Many species that were formerly included in the genus ''Cnemidophorus' ...

'' - Espiritu Santo whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis exsanguis The Chihuahuan spotted whiptail (''Aspidoscelis exsanguis'')''Aspidos ...

'' - Chihuahuan spotted whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis franciscensis ''Aspidoscelis franciscensis'', the San Francisco Island whiptail, is a species of teiid lizard endemic to San Francisco Island in Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern porti ...

'' - San Francisco Island whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis gularis'' - Texas spotted whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis guttatus ''Aspidoscelis guttatus'', the Mexican racerunner, is a species of teiid lizard endemic to Mexico. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q2866839 guttatus Reptiles described in 1834 Taxa named by Arend Friedrich August Wiegmann Reptiles of Mexico ...

'' - Mexican racerunner *'' Aspidoscelis hyperythrus'' - orange-throated whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis inornatus The little striped whiptail (''Aspidoscelis inornatus'') is a species of lizard found in the southwestern United States (in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas) and in northern Mexico (in Chihuahua (state), Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, San ...

'' - little striped whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis labialis The Baja California whiptail (''Aspidoscelis labialis'') is a species of teiid lizard endemic to the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portio ...

'' - Baja California whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis laredoensis'' - Laredo striped whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis lineattissimus ''Aspidoscelis lineattissimus'', the many-lined whiptail, is a species of teiid lizard endemic to Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is borde ...

'' - many-lined whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis marmoratus ''Aspidoscelis'' is a genus of whiptail lizards in the Family (biology), family Teiidae. Taxonomy The Binomial nomenclature, nomenclature for the genus ''Aspidoscelis'' was published by T.W. Reeder et al. in 2002. Many species that were formerly ...

'' - marbled whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis martyris'' - San Pedro Martir whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis maslini ''Aspidoscelis maslini'', Maslin's whiptail, is a species of teiid lizard found in Mexico, Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is ...

'' - Maslin's whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis maximus The Cape Region whiptail (''Aspidoscelis maximus'') is a species of teiid lizard endemic to the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q57690836 maximus Reptiles described in 1863 Taxa named by Edward Drinker Co ...

'' - Cape Region whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis mexicanus'' - Mexican whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis motaguae The giant whiptail (''Aspidoscelis motaguae'') is a species of teiid lizard native to Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It has also been introduced to Florida in the United States where it is considered an invasive spe ...

'' - giant whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis neomexicanus The New Mexico whiptail (''Aspidoscelis neomexicanus'') is a female-only species of lizard found in the southwestern United States in New Mexico and Arizona, and in northern Mexico in Chihuahua. It is the official state reptile of New Mexico. It ...

'' - New Mexico whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis neotesselatus'' - Colorado checkered whiptail, triploid checkered whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis opatae'' - Opata whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis pai The Pai striped whiptail (''Aspidoscelis pai'') is a lizard species of the genus ''Aspidoscelis ''Aspidoscelis'' is a genus of whiptail lizards in the family Teiidae. Taxonomy The nomenclature for the genus ''Aspidoscelis'' was published by T ...

'' - Pai striped whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis parvisocius ''Aspidoscelis parvisocius'', the Mexican pigmy whiptail, is a species of teiid lizard endemic to Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is borde ...

'' - Mexican pigmy whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis pictus ''Aspidoscelis pictus'', the Isla Monserrate whiptail, is a species of teiid lizard endemic to Isla Monserrate in Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North Americ ...

'' - Isla Monserrate whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis preopatae ''Aspidoscelis preopatae'' is a species of teiid lizard endemic to Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the ...

'' *'' Aspidoscelis rodecki'' - Rodeck's whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis sackii ''Aspidoscelis sackii'', known commonly as Sack's spotted whiptail, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is endemic to Mexico. There are three recognized subspecies. Taxonomy The specific name, ''sackii'', is in honor o ...

'' - Sack's spotted whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis scalaris'' - rusty-rumped whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis septemvittatus'' - plateau spotted whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis sexlineatus'' - six-lined racerunner *''

Aspidoscelis sonorae The Sonoran spotted whiptail (''Aspidoscelis sonorae'') is a parthenogenic species of teiid lizard found in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, and Mexico. References Aspidoscelis Reptiles described in 1964 Taxa named by Jo ...

'' - Sonoran spotted whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis stictogrammus The giant spotted whiptail (''Aspidoscelis stictogrammus'') is a species of teiid lizard found in the United States ( Arizona) and Mexico. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q11848689 Aspidoscelis Reptiles described in 1950 Taxa named by William ...

'' - giant spotted whiptail *'' Aspidoscelis tesselatus'' - common checkered whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis tigris The western whiptail (''Aspidoscelis tigris'') is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species ranges throughout most of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Most of its populations appear stable, and it is not listed as ...

'' - western whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis uniparens The desert grassland whiptail lizard (''Aspidoscelis uniparens'') is an all-female species of reptiles in North America. It was formerly placed in the genus ''Cnemidophorus''. A common predator of the whiptail lizard is the leopard lizard that p ...

'' - desert grassland whiptail lizard *''

Aspidoscelis velox The plateau striped whiptail (''Aspidoscelis velox'') is a species of teiid lizard found in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico in the United States. It has been introduced to the State of Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in ...

'' - plateau striped whiptail *''

Aspidoscelis xanthonotus The red-backed whiptail (''Aspidoscelis xanthonota'') is a species of Teiidae, teiid lizard found in Arizona in the United States and Sonora in Mexico. Description Its color varies between red to brown. References

Aspidoscelis Reptil ...

'' - red-backed whiptail ''

Nota bene (, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well". It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atte ...

'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Aspidoscelis''.

Speciation

In 2011, it was announced that a

parthenogenetic Parthenogenesis (; from the Greek grc, παρθένος, translit=parthénos, lit=virgin, label=none + grc, γένεσις, translit=génesis, lit=creation, label=none) is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and developmen ...

hybrid ''Aspidocelis'' was bred in the laboratory. This serves as a demonstration of how other hybrid parthenogens in this genus may have arisen.

References

External links