Species:
Aspidoscelis velox
Plateau Striped Whiptail
August 13, 2004
Oak Creek Canyon, Coconino County, Arizona

These whiptails were abundant in the dry open areas near the lush Oak Creek Canyon, but like all whiptails they rarely stopped still for more than about a tenth of a second. I was lucky to get this mediocre picture.
June 1, 2006
Natural Bridges National Monument, San Juan County, Utah

These unisexual whiptails were abundant at Natural Bridges also, but were generally no more cooperative than the ones at Oak Creek Canyon had been. This one did stop moving for a few seconds in the late afternoon shade, giving me just enough time for a few hand-held photos.
June 1, 2006
Sand Island, San Juan County, Utah

This whiptail was watching us play ball in the San Juan river with our dog Champ. You wouldn't necessarily think that whiptails would be interested in that kind of thing, but what other possible reasoning is there for it sitting still long enough for me to get a photo?


