Lizard Appreciation Day
I saw so many lizards first thing this morning, I decided to photograph as many as I could and enjoy the variety of colors, shapes, and patterns these lizards exhibit. Some were small, some big; some were fat, some were skinny; some were black or gray and others were brown; some had gorgeous turquoise spots. Some had red spots on the side of their heads. Some looked happy, some sad, some mad. (Or maybe that was just my imagination playing tricks on me.) There were some whiptails and alligator lizards, but most were fence lizards. Alas, I didn't see a single snake :(
It was a hot day: 92 degrees at 11 am.
By the end of my 5 hr. hike, I'd seen more than 70 lizards on Rhus Ridge and Black Mountain trails!!! I counted 27 that skittered away before I could photograph them. I heard, but didn't see, at least a dozen more rustling around in the dry leaves and grass, but I didn't count these in the total. I got quite a few pictures (43 submitted: some good, some bad, some terrible and not good enough to post).
Coast Range Fence Lizards: 35
Western Whiptails: 6
Southern Alligator Lizards: 2
All in all, it was a great lizard day!
See all the lizards at: https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/truthseqr/2017/7/8
References:
http://www.californiaherps.com/identification/lizardsid/lizards.id.html
http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/images/elgariaeyecomparison.jpg
More discussion:
http://www.californiaherps.com/identification/lizardsid/elgaria.id.html
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
This one is so well camouflaged, it practically blends into the tree.
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Ewing Hill Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Ewing Hill Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)Observer
truthseqrDescription
This guy ran away but paused on the hillside long enough for me to get a couple good pics.
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Not a good picture, but I'm including it anyway because it shows how well this lizard blends in with the tree trunk.
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Black Mountain Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Rhus Ridge Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Rhus Ridge Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
This guy looked black from far away.
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Rhus Ridge Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
There were 3 lizards in this location where a honey bee hive used to thrive.
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Rhus Ridge Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
There were 3 lizards in this location where a honey bee hive used to thrive.
(Note: Each of the 3 lizards has its own observation.)
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Rhus Ridge Trail)
Photos / Sounds
What
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis ssp. bocourtii)Observer
truthseqrDescription
There were 3 lizards in this location where a honey bee hive used to thrive.
(Note: Each of the 3 lizards has its own observation.)
Lizard Appreciation Day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/10754-lizard-appreciation-day
(Rhus Ridge Trail)
Comments
Nice! That is a lot of lizards! Taking advantage of the hot hot day, I guess.
Sceloporus species give me fits at ID time, but that variability makes each individual one fun to look at!
Thanks for the references, @sea-kangaroo!
@jmaughn and @dominic, I had a great lizard day. Thought you might enjoy all these lizard pics.
These are great, Anne! The lizards were good to you. Those whiptails in particular can be tricky to photograph.
Thanks, Jim. Yes, they were good to me. One of the whiptails skittered away from me but paused on the grassy hillside long enough for me to get a few pics.
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