Teiidae (Whiptails and Tegus)

Family

Whiptails and Tegus

Teiidae

55 species in our catalog · found in 97 parks

Species in this group

Each card shows the species at its best park — tap for the full profile

Gaige’s Rainbow Lizard

Cnemidophorus gaigei

70–80% · Very likely

Trinidad Ameiva

Ameiva atrigularis

70–80% · Very likely

Middle American Ameiva

Holcosus festivus

70–80% · Very likely

Argentine Black-and-white Tegu

Salvator merianae

60–70% · Likely

Amazon Racerunner

Ameiva ameiva

60–70% · Likely

Striped Forest Whiptail

Kentropyx calcarata

60–70% · Likely

Rainbow Ameiva

Holcosus undulatus

50–60% · Likely

Delicate Ameiva

Holcosus leptophrys

50–60% · Likely

Western Whiptail

Aspidoscelis tigris

50–60% · Likely

Plateau Striped Whiptail

Aspidoscelis velox

40–50% · Likely

Four-lined Ameiva

Holcosus quadrilineatus

40–50% · Likely

Bocourt's Ameiva

Medopheos edracanthus

40–50% · Likely

Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail

Aspidoscelis exsanguis

40–50% · Likely

Cope's Ameiva

Ameiva bifrontata

40–50% · Likely

Hispaniola Ameiva

Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus

40–50% · Likely

Dwarf Teiid

Pholidoscelis lineolatus

40–50% · Likely

Gold Tegu

Tupinambis teguixin

30–40% · Possible

Four-toed Tegu

Teius teyou

30–40% · Possible

Rainbow Whiptail

Cnemidophorus lemniscatus

30–40% · Possible

Plateau Spotted Whiptail

Aspidoscelis scalaris

30–40% · Possible

Marbled Whiptail

Aspidoscelis marmoratus

30–40% · Possible

Yucatán Whiptail

Aspidoscelis angusticeps

30–40% · Possible

Dusky Giant Ameiva

Ameiva praesignis

20–30% · Possible

Blackbelly Racerunner

Aspidoscelis deppii

20–30% · Possible

Calango

Cnemidophorus gramivagus

20–30% · Possible

Forest Whiptail

Kentropyx pelviceps

20–30% · Possible

Diploid Checkered Whiptail

Aspidoscelis tesselatus

20–30% · Possible

Cozumel Racerunner

Aspidoscelis cozumela

20–30% · Possible

Northern Caiman Lizard

Dracaena guianensis

20–30% · Possible

Seven-lined Ameiva

Holcosus septemlineatus

20–30% · Possible

Yellow Tegu

Salvator duseni

20–30% · Possible

Red Tegu

Salvator rufescens

Insufficient data

Haitian Ameiva

Pholidoscelis taeniurus

Insufficient data

Auber's Ameiva

Pholidoscelis auberi

20–30% · Possible

Cryptic Golden Tegu

Tupinambis cryptus

Insufficient data

Cnemidophorus duellmani

Cnemidophorus duellmani

10–20% · With luck

Race-runner

Aspidoscelis hyperythrus

10–20% · With luck

Striped Kentropyx

Kentropyx striata

Insufficient data

Cusco Tegu

Tupinambis cuzcoensis

10–20% · With luck

Common Spotted Whiptail

Aspidoscelis gularis

10–20% · With luck

Matipu Tegu

Tupinambis matipu

10–20% · With luck

Carmen Island Whiptail

Aspidoscelis carmenensis

10–20% · With luck

Jamaica Ameiva

Pholidoscelis dorsalis

Insufficient data

Peru Desert Tegu

Dicrodon guttulatum

10–20% · With luck

Spix's Whiptail

Ameivula ocellifera

Insufficient data

Cocha Whiptail

Kentropyx altamazonica

10–20% · With luck

Giant Whiptail

Aspidoscelis motaguae

Insufficient data

Little Striped Whiptail

Aspidoscelis inornatus

10–20% · With luck

Honduran Rainbow Whiptail

Cnemidophorus ruatanus

Insufficient data

Isla Monserrate Whiptail

Aspidoscelis pictus

5–10% · With luck

Paraguay Caiman Lizard

Dracaena paraguayensis

Insufficient data

Six-lined Racerunner

Aspidoscelis sexlineatus

Insufficient data

Ocellated Whiptail Lizard

Teius oculatus

Insufficient data

Echternacht's Ameiva

Holcosus anomalus

Insufficient data

Yucatan Ameiva

Holcosus gaigeae

Insufficient data

See all 55 species Show fewer

📅 Monthly Probability

Probability-weighted average across the group's species

20–30

Jan

20–30

Feb

20–30

Mar

20–30

Apr

20–30

May

30–40

Jun

30–40

Jul

30–40

Aug

30–40

Sep

30–40

Oct

30–40

Nov

20–30

Dec

🕐 When They're Spotted

When the group's species are recorded (aggregated)

Where to see Whiptails and Tegus

Worldwide records of this group (human observations from 2019 onwards, GBIF). Pins mark our parks — tap one for the chance of seeing at least one species of the group there.

Parks Ranked

Chance of seeing at least one species of the group · number of its species present

#	Park	Country	Species	P(≥1)
1	Brownsberg Nature Park	🇸🇷 Suriname	4	90–100%
	Amazon Racerunner			60–70%
	Striped Forest Whiptail			60–70%
	Gold Tegu			30–40%
	Rainbow Whiptail			30–40%
2	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	3	80–90%
	Gaige’s Rainbow Lizard			70–80%
	Cope's Ameiva			40–50%
	Dusky Giant Ameiva			10–20%
3	Emas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	3	70–80%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			60–70%
	Amazon Racerunner			30–40%
	Yellow Tegu			20–30%
4	Main Ridge Forest Reserve	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	2	70–80%
	Trinidad Ameiva			70–80%
	Cryptic Golden Tegu			Insufficient data
5	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2	70–80%
	Western Whiptail			50–60%
	Plateau Striped Whiptail			40–50%
6	Jaragua National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	3	70–80%
	Hispaniola Ameiva			40–50%
	Dwarf Teiid			40–50%
	Haitian Ameiva			Insufficient data
7	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	4	70–80%
	Amazon Racerunner			40–50%
	Four-toed Tegu			30–40%
	Red Tegu			Insufficient data
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			Insufficient data
8	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2	70–80%
	Middle American Ameiva			70–80%
	Delicate Ameiva			10–20%
9	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2	70–80%
	Four-lined Ameiva			40–50%
	Middle American Ameiva			40–50%
10	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	6	70–80%
	Plateau Spotted Whiptail			30–40%
	Marbled Whiptail			30–40%
	Diploid Checkered Whiptail			20–30%
	Little Striped Whiptail			10–20%
	Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail			5–10%
	Common Spotted Whiptail			<5%
11	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	3	70–80%
	Middle American Ameiva			40–50%
	Delicate Ameiva			20–30%
	Four-lined Ameiva			20–30%
12	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	4	70–80%
	Rainbow Ameiva			50–60%
	Four-lined Ameiva			20–30%
	Middle American Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Delicate Ameiva			Insufficient data
13	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	4	60–70%
	Middle American Ameiva			60–70%
	Delicate Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Four-lined Ameiva			Insufficient data
14	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	4	60–70%
	Delicate Ameiva			50–60%
	Four-lined Ameiva			10–20%
	Rainbow Ameiva			5–10%
	Blackbelly Racerunner			Insufficient data
15	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	1	60–70%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			60–70%
16	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	3	60–70%
	Bocourt's Ameiva			40–50%
	Seven-lined Ameiva			20–30%
	Peru Desert Tegu			10–20%
17	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	1	60–70%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			60–70%
18	Guadalupe Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3	60–70%
	Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail			40–50%
	Diploid Checkered Whiptail			20–30%
	Marbled Whiptail			Insufficient data
19	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2	60–70%
	Middle American Ameiva			40–50%
	Four-lined Ameiva			30–40%
20	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	6	50–60%
	Amazon Racerunner			40–50%
	Forest Whiptail			10–20%
	Cusco Tegu			5–10%
	Gold Tegu			Insufficient data
	Northern Caiman Lizard			Insufficient data
	Cocha Whiptail			Insufficient data
21	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	4	50–60%
	Delicate Ameiva			40–50%
	Middle American Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Four-lined Ameiva			5–10%
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
22	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	5	50–60%
	Forest Whiptail			20–30%
	Northern Caiman Lizard			20–30%
	Cusco Tegu			10–20%
	Amazon Racerunner			5–10%
	Gold Tegu			Insufficient data
23	El Palmar National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	2	50–60%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			50–60%
	Ocellated Whiptail Lizard			Insufficient data
24	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	4	50–60%
	Four-lined Ameiva			30–40%
	Middle American Ameiva			20–30%
	Delicate Ameiva			10–20%
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
25	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2	50–60%
	Middle American Ameiva			50–60%
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
26	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	5	50–60%
	Forest Whiptail			20–30%
	Northern Caiman Lizard			20–30%
	Cusco Tegu			10–20%
	Gold Tegu			Insufficient data
	Amazon Racerunner			Insufficient data
27	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	4	50–60%
	Middle American Ameiva			30–40%
	Dusky Giant Ameiva			10–20%
	Delicate Ameiva			10–20%
	Four-lined Ameiva			Insufficient data
28	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	3	50–60%
	Middle American Ameiva			50–60%
	Delicate Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Four-lined Ameiva			Insufficient data
29	Canaima National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	3	50–60%
	Rainbow Whiptail			Insufficient data
	Amazon Racerunner			Insufficient data
	Striped Kentropyx			Insufficient data
30	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	5	50–60%
	Amazon Racerunner			30–40%
	Cocha Whiptail			10–20%
	Cusco Tegu			10–20%
	Forest Whiptail			5–10%
	Gold Tegu			Insufficient data
31	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	4	40–50%
	Amazon Racerunner			30–40%
	Forest Whiptail			Insufficient data
	Cocha Whiptail			Insufficient data
	Striped Forest Whiptail			Insufficient data
32	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1	40–50%
	Western Whiptail			40–50%
33	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	2	40–50%
	Amazon Racerunner			30–40%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			Insufficient data
34	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	5	40–50%
	Amazon Racerunner			10–20%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			10–20%
	Matipu Tegu			10–20%
	Paraguay Caiman Lizard			Insufficient data
	Gold Tegu			Insufficient data
35	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	1	40–50%
	Middle American Ameiva			40–50%
36	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	4	40–50%
	Dusky Giant Ameiva			20–30%
	Delicate Ameiva			10–20%
	Four-lined Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Middle American Ameiva			Insufficient data
37	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3	40–50%
	Western Whiptail			30–40%
	Plateau Striped Whiptail			5–10%
	Little Striped Whiptail			Insufficient data
38	Itatiaia National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	1	40–50%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			40–50%
39	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1	40–50%
	Western Whiptail			40–50%
40	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	3	40–50%
	Calango			20–30%
	Cryptic Golden Tegu			Insufficient data
	Dusky Giant Ameiva			Insufficient data
41	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	1	40–50%
	Middle American Ameiva			40–50%
42	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	4	40–50%
	Race-runner			10–20%
	Western Whiptail			10–20%
	Carmen Island Whiptail			10–20%
	Isla Monserrate Whiptail			5–10%
43	Serra da Canastra National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	2	40–50%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			20–30%
	Amazon Racerunner			20–30%
44	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	1	40–50%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			40–50%
45	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	4	40–50%
	Blackbelly Racerunner			20–30%
	Rainbow Ameiva			5–10%
	Four-lined Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Delicate Ameiva			Insufficient data
46	Chapada dos Guimarães National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	3	40–50%
	Amazon Racerunner			Insufficient data
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			10–20%
	Spix's Whiptail			Insufficient data
47	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	2	40–50%
	Middle American Ameiva			30–40%
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
48	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	2	30–40%
	Yucatán Whiptail			30–40%
	Rainbow Ameiva			10–20%
49	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	2	30–40%
	Middle American Ameiva			30–40%
	Honduran Rainbow Whiptail			Insufficient data
50	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	3	30–40%
	Four-lined Ameiva			20–30%
	Middle American Ameiva			5–10%
	Delicate Ameiva			Insufficient data
51	Tijuca National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	2	30–40%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			30–40%
	Amazon Racerunner			Insufficient data
52	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	2	30–40%
	Blackbelly Racerunner			20–30%
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
53	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	4	30–40%
	Amazon Racerunner			10–20%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			Insufficient data
	Cocha Whiptail			Insufficient data
	Cusco Tegu			Insufficient data
54	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	4	30–40%
	Amazon Racerunner			10–20%
	Forest Whiptail			10–20%
	Northern Caiman Lizard			Insufficient data
	Cusco Tegu			Insufficient data
55	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	2	30–40%
	Trinidad Ameiva			20–30%
	Striped Kentropyx			Insufficient data
56	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	2	30–40%
	Middle American Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Dusky Giant Ameiva			Insufficient data
57	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	4	30–40%
	Cnemidophorus duellmani			10–20%
	Middle American Ameiva			5–10%
	Delicate Ameiva			5–10%
	Dusky Giant Ameiva			Insufficient data
58	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	2	30–40%
	Rainbow Ameiva			20–30%
	Yucatán Whiptail			10–20%
59	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	2	30–40%
	Western Whiptail			20–30%
	Race-runner			10–20%
60	Serra dos Órgãos National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	1	30–40%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			30–40%
61	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	2	30–40%
	Middle American Ameiva			20–30%
	Four-lined Ameiva			Insufficient data
62	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	3	30–40%
	Blackbelly Racerunner			20–30%
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Middle American Ameiva			Insufficient data
63	Cordillera Azul National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	2	30–40%
	Amazon Racerunner			20–30%
	Cusco Tegu			Insufficient data
64	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	3	20–30%
	Rainbow Ameiva			20–30%
	Yucatán Whiptail			5–10%
	Yucatan Ameiva			Insufficient data
65	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	5	20–30%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			10–20%
	Amazon Racerunner			10–20%
	Giant Whiptail			5–10%
	Six-lined Racerunner			Insufficient data
	Dusky Giant Ameiva			Insufficient data
66	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	1	20–30%
	Cozumel Racerunner			20–30%
67	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	3	20–30%
	Dusky Giant Ameiva			10–20%
	Delicate Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Middle American Ameiva			Insufficient data
68	Chapada Diamantina National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	2	20–30%
	Argentine Black-and-white Tegu			Insufficient data
	Amazon Racerunner			Insufficient data
69	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	3	20–30%
	Four-lined Ameiva			10–20%
	Rainbow Ameiva			5–10%
	Blackbelly Racerunner			Insufficient data
70	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	2	20–30%
	Middle American Ameiva			10–20%
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
71	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1	20–30%
	Blackbelly Racerunner			20–30%
72	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	1	20–30%
	Auber's Ameiva			20–30%
73	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2	10–20%
	Rainbow Ameiva			10–20%
	Four-lined Ameiva			Insufficient data
74	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	4	10–20%
	Middle American Ameiva			10–20%
	Four-lined Ameiva			<5%
	Dusky Giant Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Delicate Ameiva			Insufficient data
75	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	1	10–20%
	Western Whiptail			10–20%
76	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	2	10–20%
	Yucatán Whiptail			10–20%
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
77	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	1	10–20%
	Middle American Ameiva			Insufficient data
78	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	1	10–20%
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
79	Cumbres de Monterrey National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	1	10–20%
	Common Spotted Whiptail			10–20%
80	Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park	🇯🇲 Jamaica	1	10–20%
	Jamaica Ameiva			Insufficient data
81	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	1	10–20%
	Giant Whiptail			Insufficient data
82	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1	10–20%
	Middle American Ameiva			Insufficient data
83	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1	10–20%
	Western Whiptail			10–20%
84	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	3	10–20%
	Middle American Ameiva			5–10%
	Delicate Ameiva			Insufficient data
	Four-lined Ameiva			Insufficient data
85	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	1	5–10%
	Middle American Ameiva			Insufficient data
86	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	1	5–10%
	Rainbow Ameiva			Insufficient data
87	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	1	5–10%
	Dusky Giant Ameiva			Insufficient data
88	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1	5–10%
	Six-lined Racerunner			Insufficient data
89	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	1	5–10%
	Giant Whiptail			Insufficient data
90	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	1	5–10%
	Echternacht's Ameiva			Insufficient data
91	Badlands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1	5–10%
	Six-lined Racerunner			Insufficient data
92	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2	<5%
	Middle American Ameiva			<5%
	Rainbow Ameiva			<5%
93	Podocarpus National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	1	<5%
	Forest Whiptail			Insufficient data
94	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1	<5%
	Western Whiptail			<5%
95	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1	<5%
	Four-lined Ameiva			Insufficient data
96	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1	<5%
	Six-lined Racerunner			<5%
97	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1	<5%
	Six-lined Racerunner			<5%