Red-backed Whiptail vs. Western Whiptail

Both live in the rocky canyons and desert of south-central Arizona (Organ Pipe, the Ajo Mountains, the Estrellas). A: Light orange tint on top of the lower back (not down the sides) in the Red-backed Whiptail; no orange on the back in the Western Whiptail. B: Light spots joining into upright bars; no dark mottling in the Red-backed Whiptail; dark grey or black net or mottling on the sides and chest in the Western Whiptail. The Red-backed Whiptail is bigger: up to 4.5 in head and body, against 4.3 in.

Photographs via iNaturalist under Creative Commons licences; the photographers are credited on the sheet.

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