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Near Garfield, Benton County, Arkansas, USA
The gravid mother was captured earlier in the season and held till she laid. Of the 9 total eggs, 7 successfully hatched and survived, 1 hatched malformed and died shortly, and 1 underdeveloped fetus did not hatch. About 3 of the hatchlings had slight aberrations in their patterning.
A snake I captured. Of course my dog had to come over and bark and made the snake nervous so it kept striking.
Sceloporus undulatus is a medium-sized species of lizard found along forest edges, rock piles, and rotting logs or stumps from the Mid-Atlantic states to Texas. They are sometimes referred to as the prairie lizard, fence swift, or gray lizard.
The generic name: Sceloporus is derived from the from the Greek skelos meaning "leg", and the Latin porus, meaning "hole", referring to the enlarged femoral pores found in this genus of lizards. The specific name, undulatus is Latin for "wave," referring to the transverse dark cross-bars on the backs of these lizards.
The eastern fence lizard can grow from 4 to 7.25 inches long. It is typically colored in shades of gray or brown, and has keeled scales (keeled scales refer to reptile scales that, rather than being smooth, have a ridge down the center that may or may not extend to the tip of the scale, making them rough to the touch), with a dark line running along the rear of the thigh. A female is usually gray and has a series of dark, wavy lines across her back. The belly is white with black flecks, with some pale blue on the throat and belly. The male is usually brown, and during the summer, has a more greenish-blue and black coloration on the sides of the belly and throat than the female has. The young look like the females, but are darker and duller.
They closely resemble the western fence lizard, but differ slightly in coloration and live in a different area and habitat.
Fence lizards are diurnal, and spend much of their time basking. Their diet consists of insects and spiders. When surprised, they often will dash for a nearby tree, climb up a short distance, and then hide on the opposite side of the trunk, moving around to stay on the opposite side if approached.
Eastern fence lizards mate in spring, and lay three to 16 eggs in late spring or early summer. The young hatch in summer and fall.
Northern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea)
You are free to use this image with the following photo credit: Peter Pearsall/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Note the upwardly protruding lower 4th tooth -- diagnostic of crocodiles.
Gatorland, Orlando, FL, USA
Eye-eye!
This is the eye of my son's bearded dragon. It is easy to photograph him, because he stays still most of the time :)
This is arguably our most commonly seen snake on the Central Valley floor. Rattlesnakes are mostly extirpated and our garter snakes are much shier.
The lizards were out in force today catching some rays. Saw about 20 altogether. Taken at Stockbridge Meadow, Melbourn
American Alligator photo was taken at Alligator Adventure in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Photo Manipulation Method: Color Sketch