United States and Canada
This species is restricted to the higher elevations of central and western Mexico and the southwestern United States. Yellow-legged Ringtail is the only species in the region nearly lacking any sign of brown on the pale yellow thorax. The abdomen is pale yellow with interrupted dorsolateral black stripes. The male cerci are moderately to strongly angulate. Females are similar to males, but with a pair of pits anterolaterally on the frons and a medial notch in the occipital crest.
Size: Total length: 45-49 mm; abdomen: 33-37 mm; hindwing: 29-35 mm.
Similar Species (south-central US): This species can be distinguished from other ringtails in the region by the yellow outer surfaces of the tibiae. The tibiae of the other ringtail species in the region are dark.
Habitat: Higher elevation seasonal and permanent streams and creeks with wide sandy or rocky margins.
Natural History: This species can be common in certain habitats, but appears to be restricted, as mentioned above, primarily to central and western Mexico. Records of this species from Catron and Grant Counties in New Mexico are erroneous and based on specimens of Dashed Ringtail (E. heterodon ) (pers. comm. Rosser Garrison). The only valid record of this species in New Mexico is from Sitting Bull Falls in Eddy County, bordering Texas. This species has not however been found in Texas. The above records along with reared specimens from Arizona constitute all known North American records. This species does fly alongside Eastern (E. designatus), Dashed and Serpent (E. lampropeltis ) Ringtails.
Distribution: Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico.
Source: Abbott, J.C. 2006-2010. OdonataCentral: An online resource for the distribution and identification of Odonata. Available at OdonataCentral.
Edited by Drew Weber (9/24/2015).
