A New Species of Lizard of the Cnemidophorus tesselatus Group from Texas

Abstract

A new species of parthenogenetic whiptail lizard, Cnemidophorus dixoni, is described from Presidio County in southwest Texas. A summary of pertinent literature relating to the taxonomic status of parthenogenetic vertebrates is presented. Two pattern classes, C. dixoni A and C. dixoni B, are recognized for the two morphologically distinct populations occurring in the Chinati Mountains. A population of whiptail lizards from Hidalgo County, New Mexico, previously recognized as C. tesselatus F is referred to C. dixoni. Ecological interrelationships between C. dixoni and sympatric species of Cnemidophorus, including C. tesselatus, are discussed.