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Aspidoscelis neomexicanus

(Lowe and Zweifel, 1952)

New Mexico Whiptail

G5Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103871
Element CodeARACJ02090
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyTeiidae
GenusAspidoscelis
Synonyms
Aspidoscelis neomexicana(Lowe and Zweifel, 1952)Cnemidophorus neomexicanusLowe and Zweifel, 1952
Other Common Names
New Mexico Whiptail (unisexual) (EN)
Concept Reference
Wright, J. W., and L. J. Vitt. 1993. Biology of whiptail lizards (genus Cnemidophorus). Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, Oklahoma.
Taxonomic Comments
Manning et al. (2005) presented evidence for hybridization between A. neomexicana and A. sexlineatus viridis, but there is no indication either that this hybridization has produced a new hybrid species or that it is leading to the fusion of the two species (Crother 2017).

Cnemidophorus perplexus is a senior synonym of A. neomexicana (the lectotype of perplexus evidently is not a hybrid; Taylor and Walker (1996)). To promote nomenclatural stability, Smith et al. (1997), including Walker, proposed to the ICZN that C. neomexicanus be conserved and that Cnemidophorus perplexus be suppressed. This proposal was approved (1999 Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 56(2):162-163).

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.
Conservation Status
Review Date2005-08-29
Change Date1996-10-29
Edition Date2005-08-29
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
The range encompasses, New Mexico, northwestern Texas, and probably adjacent Chihiahia, Mexico (Stebbins: Presidio County, Texas, north to Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, and west to Hidalgo County New Mexico. The species occurs disjunctly near Conchas Lake, San Miguel County, and Fort Sumner, De Baca County, in New Mexico (Taylor 2002), and at Petrified Forest National Park, Apache County, Arizona (Persons and Wright 1999). The Conchas Lake and Fort Sumner populations in New Mexico may be natural occurrences (Taylor 2002) but could possibly represent introductions, whereas the Apache County record in Arizona more likely represents an introduction. Elevational range is around 1,010-1,890 meters (3,300-6,200 feet) (Stebbins 2003).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by hundreds of occurrences or subpopulations. For example, Degenhardt et al. (1996) mapped nearly 200 collection sites in New Mexico.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats have been identified.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitats characteristically are perpetually disturbed, disclimax habitats within the Rio Gramde drainage (Degenhardt et al. 1996), such as those along floodplains (Stebbins 2003), including grasslands with scattered shrubs, mesquite-creosotebuch communities, river basins, washes, arroyos, and vacant lots; also shrubby edges of desert playas and desert/grassland ecotones (west of the Rio Grande) (Degenhardt et al. 1996); generally in areas with loose sand or packed sandy soil (Stebbins 2003); it also can be numerous among human-generated rubble (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999). It rarely occurs at higher elevations in pinyon-juniper woodland where open sandy alluvial benches are present (Parker and Selander 1984, Degenhardt et al. 1996). Eggs are laid probably in a nest dug in soil or underground.

Reproduction

All female, parthenogenetic. Lays clutch of 2-4 eggs in summer. Eggs hatch in 50-60 days.
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousDesertSand/duneCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
TexasS4Yes
ArizonaSNRYes
UtahSNANo
Navajo NationS3Yes
New MexicoS5Yes
Roadless Areas (2)
New Mexico (2)
AreaForestAcres
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
Virgin CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,068
References (24)
  1. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  2. Cole, C. J., H. C. Dessauer, and G. F. Barrowclough. 1988. Hybrid origin of a unisexual species of whiptail lizard, <i>Cnemidophorus neomexicanus</i>, in western North America: new evidence and a review. Am. Mus. Nov. 2905:1-38.
  3. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  4. Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 616 pp.
  5. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  6. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  7. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  8. Dessauer, H. C., and C. J. Cole. 1989. Diversity between and within nominal forms of unisexual teiid lizards. Pages 49-71 in R. M. Dawley and J. P. Bogart, editors. Evolution and ecology of unisexual vertebrates. Bull. 466, New York State Mus., Albany.
  9. Frost, D. R., and J. W. Wright. 1988. The taxonomy of uniparental species, with special reference to parthenogenetic <i>Cnemidophorus </i>(Squamata: Teiidae). Syst. Zool. 37:200-209.
  10. Manning, G. J., C. J. Cole, H. C. Dessauer, and J. M. Walker. 2005. Hybridization between parthenogenetic lizards (Aspidoscelis neomexicana) and gonochoristic lizards (Aspidoscelis sexlineata viridis) in New Mexico: ecological, morphological, cytological, and molecular context. American Museum Novitates 2005, no. 3492:1-56.
  11. Maslin, T. P., and D. M. Secoy. 1986. A checklist of the lizard genus <i>Cnemidophorus</i> (Teiidae). Univ. Colorado Mus., Contrib. in Zoology No. 1. 60 pp.
  12. Oliver G. V., and J. W. Wright. 2007. The New Mexico Whiptail, <i>Cnemidophorus neomexicanus</i> (Squamata: Teiidae), in the Great Basin of North Central Utah. Western North American Naturalist 67(3):461-467.
  13. Parker, E. D., Jr., and R. K. Selander. 1984. Low clonal diversity in the parthenogenetic lizard <i>Cnemidophorus neomexicanus</i> (Sauria: Teiidae). Herpetologica 40:245-252.
  14. Persons, T., and J. W. Wright. 1999. Discovery of <i>Cnemidophorus neomexicanus</i> in Arizona. Herpetological Review 30:207-208.
  15. Reeder, T. W., C. J. Cole, and H. C. Dessauer. 2002. Phylogenetic relationships of whiptail lizards of the genus <i>Cnemidophorus </i>(Squamata: Teiidae): a test of monophyly, reevaluation of karyotypic evolution, and review of hybrid origins. American Museum Novitates (3365):1-61.
  16. Smith, H. M., et al. [10 other authors]. 1997a. <i>Cnemidophorus neomexicanus</i> Lowe &amp; Zweifel, 1952 (Reptilia, Squamata): proposed conservation of the specific name. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 54:167-171.
  17. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  18. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  19. Taylor, H. L. 2002. Geographic distribution: <i>Cnemidophorus neomexicanus</i> (= <i>Aspidoscelis neomexicana</i>). Herpetological Review 33:223-224.
  20. Uetz, P., P. Freed, R. Aguilar, F. Reyes, and J. Hošek (eds.). 2023. The Reptile Database. Online. Available: http://www.reptile-database.org
  21. Walker, J. M. 1997. Genealogy of the lectotype of <i>Cnemidophorus perplexus</i> Baird and Girard, 1852. Journal of Herpetology 31:103-107.
  22. Walker, J. M., Sr., J. E. Cordes, and J. M. Walker, Jr. 1992. Habitat preferences of a disjunct population of parthenogenetic <i>Cnemidophorus neomexicanus</i> (Sauria: Teiidae) in San Miguel Co., New Mexico. Southwest. Nat. 37:82-
  23. Wright, J. W. 1971b. <i>Cnemidophorus neomexicanus</i>. Cat. Am. Amph. Rep. 109.1-109.3.
  24. Wright, J. W., and L. J. Vitt. 1993. Biology of whiptail lizards (genus <i>Cnemidophorus</i>). Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, Oklahoma.