Family: Teiidae, Whiptails view all from this family

Description 8-10 3/4" (20.3-27.3 cm). Slender; 6 or 7 light stripes separated by dark-brown or black bands without spots. Back scales small, granular. Throat white or blue-white; chin blue-green. Belly uniform white or pale blue-green. 8 lengthwise rows of large, smooth rectangular belly scales. Tail light blue; bright blue in juveniles.

Breeding Unisexual; no mating. Clutch of 3-5 eggs, laid June to July, hatches in August.

Habitat Pinyon-juniper woodland and ponderosa pine forest, 5,500-6,000' (1,600-1,800 m).

Range W. Colorado south to c. New Mexico, west to c. Arizona, north through se. Utah. A a disjunct (unquestionably introduced) population has been reported in Jefferson County, Oregon.

Discussion Diurnal. While it is foraging in leaf litter beneath bushes this lizard can be approached quite closely before it takes flight. Even then, it may flee only a short distance.