Friday, April 16, 2010

Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulates)

I went by the Nature Center a week or so ago to see how the construction was progressing. I’d promised myself I would walk out to the point (Segment 10-11). I row past here regularly but had never walked the path. As I made my way along the path, something scampered from the path into the leaves. I thought that was the end of it but…
There at the base of the tree was an Eastern Fence Lizard that must have been basking on the path in the early morning sun. Rather than disappear into the leaves, it had started up the tree trunk. It was probably the flash of its blue belly that drew my attention.

Otherwise it blended perfectly into the tree trunk less than a foot above the ground. I stood still for a long time.

It became more comfortable or, perhaps, less threatened by my presence and moved around the trunk of the tree.

Apparently defying gravity, it posed upside-down.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Identification resources:
- Lizards of Georgia and South Carolina: Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulates)
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5 comments:

  1. Amber CoakleyMay 19, 2010 at 9:28 PM

    What a gorgeous blue tummy! The camouflage is impressive - maybe that's why I've never seen one of these lizards. I looked up its range in Texas, and apparently they're here. Cool!

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  2. JSKMay 20, 2010 at 6:37 PM

    I have only seen them a few times - and close enough to get a photo. Any time I hear scurrying rustling near the base of a tree now, I figure it's one of these guys.

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  3. JSKMay 20, 2010 at 6:39 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Ted C. MacRaeMay 22, 2010 at 1:07 AM

    They are quite difficult to photograph!

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  5. JSKMay 22, 2010 at 12:29 PM

    They normally don't stay around for a photo-op. It may be that it is mating season and this guy was guarding his territory and a little braver than usual.

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