The whiptail is mainly found in grassy areas and can be found near rivers. Its range is southeastern Colorado. The whiptail's enemies are birds and snakes. The whiptail defends itself by whipping its enemies with its tail. This lizard does not mate. Eggs will develop on their own. Please be nice to the whiptail!

The Colorado whiptail looks like it's cousin, the Californa whiptail , (shown in this photo) exept it has a more distinctive checkered pattern.

Have you been to Gullies Canyon? Have you seen a Colorado checkered whiptailed lizard? If you see a checkered lizard on a rock or laying eggs you've seen a whiptailed lizard. When you go to Gullies Canyon and you see a checkered lizard rummaging for insects you might want to show your parents. In a desert in the canyons where it's hot and dry you might see a whiptailed lizard laying eggs under dry leaves or grass.

I got my information from COLORADO WILDLIFE by Jeff Rennike.

It is fall in southeastern Colorado and the checkered whiptail lizard is making a home underground. It will live there until April. During the winter it stays home. In the spring and summer it searches for insects. It lives in gullies, canyons, and bluffs. The checkered whiptail goes into its home at night and comes out in the morning. Did you know that checkered whiptails like to bury their eggs in rich soil? They do! The female stays at the nest for about one or two days. She defends the nest for a short time. Did you know that 40 whiptails can live on one acre of land at the same time? That's a lot!

I got my information from COLORADO WILDLIFE by Jeff Rennicke.