Aspidoscelis velox
Field ID: Dark, blackish brown lizard with six to seven light stripes along the length of its body. Very long, blue tail (pale in adults, bright in juveniles). Long, slender body and pale or light blue undersides. Back scales are small and granular. There is no indentation at the neck to differentiate between the head and body. Size: 8–10¾ inches (20.3–27.3 cm).
Habitat: Piñon-juniper and ponderosa pine–oak woodlands, shrublands; wooded river and stream corridors.
Distribution: Western Colorado, south of the Roan Plateau, up to about 7,500 feet.
Field Notes: This is an all-female species that reproduces by parthenogenesis, meaning eggs develop into adults without needing to be fertilized. Plateau striped whiptails are active from May through September. They are ground-dwelling lizards and can be approached very closely before they flee; even then they only go a short way. Instead of sitting and waiting for prey to come by, whiptails move around, actively hunting. If captured, they may feign death by going limp. When grabbed, they may whip around and try to bite.
Legal Status: Nongame.