Xantusia vigilis

Crother (2017) follows Sinclair et al. (2004) in recognizing X. sierrae and X. wigginsi as separate species from X. vigilis and treatment of the name X. v. utahensis as a synonym of X. vigilis. See also Leavitt et al. (2007) and Noonan et al. (2013).

Papenfuss et al. (2001) examined genetic and morphological variation of Xantusia and reviewed allozyme data from Bezy and Sites (1987). They concluded that three species are represented in Arizona: Xantusia vigilis, a yucca-dwelling species; X. arizonae, a granite-adapted species; and X. bezyi, another granite-associated species. Stebbins (2003) mentioned the taxonomic changes proposed by Papenfuss et al. but did not adopt them.

The range extends from southern Utah, western Arizona, southern Nevada, and southern California, USA, south to southwestern Sonora and Baja California, Mexico (Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003). Some Arizona populations formerly included in this species are now regarded as X. arizonae, X. bezyi, and X. wigginsi (Papenfuss et al. 2001, Sinclair et al. 2004, Leavitt et al. 2007). A population in northern Durango is of uncertain taxonomic status (Bezy and Flores Villela 1999).

See Feldman et al. (2003, Herpetol. Rev. 34:167) for discussion of distribution in the southern Sierra Nevada region of California.

This species is represented by many occurrences or subpopulations (Bezy 1982, GBIF 2022).

No major threats have been identified, but locally the species likely is declining where its habitat has been degraded by commercial and residential development.