Gila Monster Close-up — Image by kenneturner.com
“Gila monsters have beaded scales in colorful patterns. Gila monsters are
the largest lizards native to the United States. They get their name from
Arizona’s Gila River basin, where they were first discovered.
Gila monsters are also one of only two venomous lizards in the world.”
Eastern Collared Lizard — Images by kenne
Eastern Collared Lizard (April 2011) — Image by kenne
— kenne
The last Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist (SCVN) Lizard took place on October 12th.
It was a perfect fall morning for a lizard walk. However,
some lizards may have not agreed since the number of sightings were low.
Still, it was a beautiful morning for a nature walk.
Naturalists Tom Skinner and Fred Heath welcome the walkers in front of the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center.
Everyone gathers near lizard spotter off the trail,
a common side-blotched lizard.
Naturalists Bill and Lousie Kaufman share information on the common side-bloched lizard.
— Images by kenne
In the parched path I have seen the good lizard (one drop of crocodile) meditating. With his green frock-coat of an abbot of the devil, his correct bearing and his stiff collar, he has the sad air of an old professor. Those faded eyes of a broken artist, how they watch the afternoon in dismay! -- from "The Old Lizard" by Federic Garcia Lorca
Mountain Spiny Lizard or Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus jarrovii) — Image by kenne
— kenne
“Two Lizards” (Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum) — Images by kenne
Eastern Collared Lizard — Image by kenne
Another sign of spring in the desert are our reptile friends, most scurrying about making it difficult to photograph. But not the eastern collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris), who like to pose for you on a nearby rock.
Welcome back, my friend — it is spring time in the Sonoran desert.
kenne
“Here’s Looking At You” — Image by kenne
Lizard Walk — Desert Spiny Image by kenne
In Your Face, Dude (Desert Spiny Lizard) — Computer Art by kenne
— kenne
Desert Spiny Male Lizard — Image by kenne
The morning light and the cooler desert temperatures bring out the colors in this male desert spiny lizard.
Desert Spiny Lizard — Image by kenne
It’s hard not to think of lizards when one thinks of the hot desert days of summer.
Most lizards like the heat, but not to much.
An article in the Smithsonian Magazine notes,
“Scientists worry that a warming climate may be especially dangerous for lizards,
which aren’t able to regulate their own temperatures.”
Scientists are making use mitochondrial DNA to map out a species’ genetic diversity
to learn how animals might best adapt to global warming, if at all.
Lizards “may need to become nocturnal if they want to survive.”
Still, I’m always amazed to see a Zebra-tailed lizard moving across a neighbor street (black-top)
in the bright sun knowing that the air temperature is already in the triple digits
— go figure!
kenne
Male Desert Spiny Lizard Chasing A Female — Image by kenne
A Gila Monster Outing in Sabino Canyon — Images by kenne
— kenne
Eastern Collared Lizard — Image by kenne
