The plateau spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis septemvittatus) is a species of lizard found in the southern United States in Texas, and in northern Mexico in Chihuahua and Coahuila. It is known to hybridize with the Eastern Spotted Whiptail, Cnemidophorus gularis, but is considered to be a distinct species due to phenotypic characteristics.

Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...

Plateau spotted whiptail
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Teiidae
Genus:	Aspidoscelis
Species:	A. septemvittatus
Binomial name
Aspidoscelis septemvittatus Cope, 1892
Synonyms
Cnemidophorus sackii semifasciatus Smith & Taylor, 1950 Cnemidophorus gularis septemvittatus Maslin & Secoy, 1986 Aspidoscelis gularis septemvittata Reeder, 2002

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The Plateau spotted whiptail grows from 8 to 12.5 inches. It has an overall dark green, dark brown or black coloration with 6-7 cream colored stripes that run down the body from head to tail, sometimes with white spotting between stripes. Their underside is typically white or pale blue, and females often have an orange throat. They have a slender body, with a tail that is nearly three times their body length.

Like other species of whiptail lizard, the Plateau spotted whiptail is diurnal and insectivorous. They are wary, energetic, and fast moving, darting for cover if approached. It is found primarily in semi-arid canyonlands and rocky desert foothills. Breeding takes place in the spring, with females laying eggs in the mid summer, which hatch six to eight weeks later.