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(Cnemidophorus velox)
Identification: Body long and slender; upper side
with small granular scales; belly with larger rectangular scales; back and sides
with six or seven light stripes (the middle stripe, if present, is less distinct
than the other stripes and may exist as an intermittent line); dark fields
between stripes uninterrupted by light areas; belly white or pale blue-green;
tail blue (pale in adult, bright in juvenile); scales on underside of base of
front legs not greatly enlarged; maximum size about 28 cm (11 inches) total
length and 8.7 cm (3.4 inches) snout-vent length.
Colorado Distribution:
West-central and southwestern
Colorado, south of Rio Blanco County, at elevations below 7,500 feet. Fairly
common in many areas
.
Habitat:
Piņon-juniper woodland, sagebrush,
semidesert and mountain shrublands, and lowland riparian zones, encompassing
rocky slopes and, in flat areas, deep sandy soils; active on the ground. Takes
shelter in burrows or other underground sites; may dig own burrow under
rock.
Life History:
This is an all-female species that
arose through hybridization between other whiptail species. Adults lay eggs in
late spring or early summer. The earliest hatchlings emerge in
August.
Note: The scientific name of this lizard was recently changed to Aspidoscelis
velox.
Revised: July, 24 2003