New Mexico whiptail
All-female lizard species reproducing through parthenogenesis.
The New Mexico whiptail (Aspidoscelis neomexicanus) is a lizard species consisting entirely of females. Its range includes New Mexico, Arizona, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It holds the title of official state reptile for New Mexico. This lizard is one of several whiptail species that reproduce through parthenogenesis, meaning no male is needed. Individuals can arise either from the hybridization of the little striped whiptail (A. inornatus) and the western whiptail (A. tigris) or from the parthenogenetic reproduction of an adult New Mexico whiptail. The hybridization prevents the formation of healthy males, while parthenogenesis allows the all-female population to continue. This combination of interspecific hybridization and parthenogenesis is a reproductive strategy found in several whiptail lizards of the genus *Aspidoscelis*.
Adults measure between 6.5 and 9.1 inches (16.5 to 23 cm) in length. Their coloring is typically brown or black, with seven pale yellow stripes running from head to tail. Light spots often appear between these stripes. The underside is white or pale blue, and the throat is blue or blue-green. The body is slender, and the tail is long. Juveniles often have a blue-green tail, which fades into the spotted brown and yellow pattern as they age.
Like most whiptail lizards, this species is diurnal and insectivorous, feeding mainly on spiders and insects such as termites, beetles, grasshoppers, ants, caterpillars, moths, and butterflies. They are cautious, energetic, and fast, quickly darting for cover when disturbed. Their habitats are varied and semi-arid, including grasslands, rocky areas, shrublands, and mountainside woodlands. Reproduction is through parthenogenesis; up to four unfertilized eggs are laid in mid-summer, hatching about eight weeks later. The lizards are active during the day but often retreat from the heat between noon and mid-afternoon in hot weather. They hibernate, being active from mid-March to mid-October. The New Mexico whiptail is a cross between the desert-dwelling western whiptail and the grassland-favoring little striped whiptail. Females engage in mating behavior with other females, a practice that has earned them the nickname "lesbian lizards." A common theory is that this behavior stimulates ovulation, as females that do not "mate" fail to lay eggs.
In online LGBTQ+ spaces, the New Mexico whiptail—
- Scientific name
- Aspidoscelis neomexicanus
- Length
- 6.5 to 9.1 inches (16.5 to 23 cm)
- Color
- Brown or black with seven pale yellow stripes; white or pale blue underside; blue or blue-green throat
- Habitat
- Semi-arid areas including grassland, rocky areas, shrubland, mountainside woodlands
- Diet
- Insects and spiders (termites, beetles, grasshoppers, ants, caterpillars, moths, butterflies)
- Reproduction
- Parthenogenesis; up to four unfertilized eggs laid in mid-summer, hatching after about eight weeks
- Range
- New Mexico, Arizona (USA); Chihuahua (Mexico)
Lore & Background
The New Mexico whiptail is a hybrid species created through the crossing of the little striped whiptail (A. inornatus) and the western whiptail (A. tigris). This hybridization prevents healthy males from forming, while parthenogenesis allows the all-female population to reproduce. The combination of interspecific hybridization and parthenogenesis is a reproductive strategy seen in several whiptail lizards of the genus Aspidoscelis.
These lizards are diurnal and insectivorous, feeding primarily on spiders and insects. They are wary, energetic, and fast moving, darting for cover if approached. They are active from mid-March through mid-October and hibernate during colder months. During periods of high temperatures, they retreat from the heat from noon to mid-afternoon.
The New Mexico whiptail engages in mating behavior with other females of its own species, giving rise to the nickname 'lesbian lizards.' A common theory is that this behavior stimulates ovulation, as those that do not 'mate' do not lay eggs.
Reader's Guide
The New Mexico whiptail is significant as a natural example of an all-female vertebrate species that reproduces through parthenogenesis, a rare reproductive strategy among vertebrates. Its existence demonstrates how interspecific hybridization can lead to novel reproductive modes, and it has become a model organism for studying the genetic and evolutionary mechanisms of parthenogenesis. The species also holds cultural importance as the official state reptile of New Mexico and has been adopted as a gay icon in online LGBTQ+ spaces, sometimes dubbed the 'leaping lesbian lizard.' Its unique biology challenges traditional notions of reproduction and sex in animals, offering insights into how species can persist without males. The whiptail's behavior of female-female mating, which is thought to stimulate ovulation, further highlights the complexity of reproductive strategies in nature. As a hybrid species, it also illustrates the role of hybridization in generating biodiversity.
Did You Know?
- The New Mexico whiptail is a female-only species that reproduces through parthenogenesis.
- It is created either through hybridization of the little striped whiptail and the western whiptail, or through parthenogenetic reproduction of an adult New Mexico whiptail.
- The species engages in mating behavior with other females, which is thought to stimulate ovulation.
- It is the official state reptile of New Mexico.
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