to Wilson et al. (2013), A. costatus scores a medium environmental vulnerability score principally due to its restricted distribution, and threats from intensive agriculture or human settlements., considerable habitat clearance and environmental disturbance in localized areas for human-modified habitats. Subspecies The following eight subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. Aspidoscelis costatus barrancorum Aspidoscelis costatus costatus Aspidoscelis costatus griseocephalus Aspidoscelis costatus huico Aspidoscelis costatus mazatlanensis Aspidoscelis costatus nigrigularis Aspidoscelis costatus occidentalis Aspidoscelis costatus zweifeli Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Aspidoscelis. Etymology The subspecific name, zweifeli, is in honor of American herpetologist Richard G. Zweifel. References Further reading Cope ED (1878) ("1877"). "Tenth Contribution to the Herpetology of Tropical America". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 17: 85–98. (Cnemidophorus costatus, new species, pp. 95–96). Reeder TW, Cole CJ, Dessauer HC (2002). "Phylogenetic Relationships of Whiptail Lizards of the Genus Cnemidophorus (Squamata: Teiidae): A Test of Monophyly, Reevauation of Karyotypic Evolution, and Review of Hybrid Origins". American Museum Novitates (3365): 1-61. (Aspidoscelis costata, new combination, p. 22). costatus Endemic reptiles of Mexico Reptiles described in 1878 Taxa named by Edward Drinker Cope