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A western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) sunning itself on a cinderblock. A very patient one, at that. Most of them don't let me get this close!
Sceloporus occidentalis occidentalis.
Credit for identification goes to Gary Nafis, who made the determination based off of range maps on his site, www.californiaherps.com, an indispensable resource for California herpetology enthusiasts. He stated that more research needs to be done into populations of Fence Lizards for more definitive identifications, especially in the contact zones between the various populations.
Taken on Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve's Ridge Trail on April 17, 2011.
Much of the more vivid coloring on many lizards is on the underparts. The two previous pics give no hint of the blue shown in this shot. The orange head and back is said to be from a population found in the Colorado Plateau. However, Tucson (Oro Valley) is considerably to the south of this region.
IMG_2718e; Desert Spiny Lizard
Galapagos Lava Lizard - Microlophus albemarlensis - Галапагосская лавовая ящерица
Tropiduridae, Iguania
Tortuga Bay, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, 09/13/2013
This was a great chance encounter and I consider this a culmination of preparation and opportunity. I was on a phone call in my balcony when I saw two of these guys walk on the under-construction road near my house. I desperately hung up the call, got out my camera and ran down the stairs. I couldn't see them to start with but I knew they couldn't have gone far. My instincts told me they'd be in the bushes near my house. And yes, there was one of them - almost invisible to start with; very skittish, yet receptive to my photographic advances. Here are some shots I managed. Handheld, F5.6.