Description: 11-17 3/4" (27.0-45.1 cm). Long slender lizard; blue-gray to gray-green with profuse light spotting (spots large) and 6 or 7 light stripes, prominent in juveniles, faded or absent in large adults. Back scales small and granular. Belly uniform gray to white; 8 lengthwise rows of large, smooth rectangular belly scales. Head and neck rusty red. Tail brown; orange in young.

Subspecies: One in our range: Giant Spotted Whiptail (C. b. stictogrammus), very large, with big light spots, red on head and neck only; s. Arizona, sw. New Mexico and n. Sonora.

Breeding: Clutches of 1-4 eggs are laid presumably in summer.

Similar Species: The smaller Red-backed Whiptail (C. xanthonotus) of Pima County in s. Arizona, was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Giant. It is smaller and has red on head and body but not low on sides.

Habitat: Rocky, grassy, and brush-covered semiarid areas, often near small streams.

Range: Se. Arizona, sw. New Mexico and n. Sonora.

Discussion Diurnal. Subsists on insects and their larvae, plus spiders.