Found this little gal(?) In my bedroom all emaciated and sluggish, got her a heat pad, uv lamp and fattening it up with small crickets with calcium. Think it's a New Mexican Whiptail but not sure. Looks kinda wrinkly. Is it ok?
this post was submitted on 11 Oct 2024
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How is she doing?
I agree that it is a whiptail, but it is not so easy to determine the species from this photo.
New Mexico whiptail (Aspidoscelis neomexicanus) is possible. If it is this species, the species is female-only (according to wikipedia), and so this would be a girl.
Looking through other whiptails found in New Mexico (is that where you found her?), I have found photos of the Texas spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis) that with patterns of spots similar to the lizard in your picture, so that is another possibility. If it is the Texas spotted whiptail, I do think that it is a female as well because the males have more color (red throat, blue belly).
She fat and happy now. Tons of energy. I'm probably anthropromorthizing, but this species has so much more personality compared to what's usually around here in Los Angeles (fence lizards, side blotched lizards, alligator lizards)
I'm happy to hear that! It is not so easy to rescue weakened wild animals, so you must have done a very good job in getting the conditions right 👍