Western Whiptail vs. Northern Alligator Lizard

Both live in southern Idaho. The Western Whiptail has pale stripes broken by dark bars into a checkered pattern, tiny grainy scales and a very long tail; the Northern Alligator Lizard has squarish scales in neat rows like armour and a deep fold along the side. A: Western Whiptail, tiny, grain-like scales; Northern Alligator Lizard, squarish, keeled scales in neat rows, like armour. B: Western Whiptail, no collar and no dark blotch behind the front leg; Northern Alligator Lizard, no collar or blotch; a deep fold of skin along the side. C: Western Whiptail, pale stripes broken by dark bars and spots: checkered; Northern Alligator Lizard, dark crossbars flecked with white.

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

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