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The whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis uniparens) is an all-female species of reptile. These lizards, as well as the lesser earless lizard and the Eastern fence lizard, have evolved blanched coloration at White Springs, N.M. Scientists have identified the specific mutations that turn White Sands' lizards white.
The stark, white dunes are an ideal environment to observe evolution in action. These dunes are geologically very young--only a few thousand years old -- and in that time, a number of animals have adapted to this new environment. Natural selection has favored lighter colored animals on the dunes for camouflage against the white sand and avoidance of predators. Species of mammal, reptile and insect have rapidly developed adaptations to this unusual environment.Image credit: Simone Des Roches, University of Idaho
