Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail

Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail

Aspidoscelis exsanguis

Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
at Guadalupe Mountains National Park

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

68 Verified sightings at Guadalupe Mountains National Park From 2019 to 2026
82 In all 2 parks
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail

The Chihuahuan spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis exsanguis) is a species of lizard native to the United States in southern Arizona, southern New Mexico and southwestern Texas, and northern Mexico in northern Chihuahua and northern Sonora.

The species is believed to be the result of extensive hybridization between the little striped whiptail, Aspidoscelis inornatus, the plateau spotted whiptail, Aspidoscelis septemvittatus, and the western Mexico whiptail, Aspidoscelis costatus. It is one of many lizard species known to be parthenogenetic.

The Chihuahuan spotted whiptail grows from 9.5 to 12 inches in length. It is typically a reddish-brown in color, with six lighter colored stripes that run the length of the body, with spotting between the stripes. The underside is white or sometimes pale blue. It is slender-bodied with a tail nearly three times its body length.

Like most whiptailed lizards, the Chihuahua spotted whiptail is diurnal and insectivorous. This species can be found in many kinds of mostly arid habitat, including desert, desert grassland, dry basin forests, and oak, pine, and juniper woodland, where it lives in washes and canyons. It digs holes... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~50%
2 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

Likely

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail sighting in Guadalupe Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 68 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 5th most-seen of the 21 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

June

In that month about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and October–January, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Guadalupe Mountains National Park the best place to see a Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail sightings, Guadalupe Mountains National Park has the highest daily chance: about 50%. Next come Big Bend National Park (United States, about 10%).

Where does the Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Guadalupe Mountains National Park (68 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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