The Fences Have Eyes

One of my favorite tips for lizard finding is if you stare at a location (in geographic ranges where lizards are found) you are likely to eventually see a lizard. There are basic needs the lizards need met:

1) Food

2) Areas to thermoregulate

3) Shelter from predators

4) Access to mates

At the Zoo, there used to be a grove of Eucalyptus trees. They had to be cut down because of erosion and the potential for the trees to fall. Now there’s an “empty” patch of land. It’s mostly dirt, dried grasses, and rocks with a few small shrubs. However, these are still excellent habitat for western fence lizards, Sceloporus occidentalis. It has the shrubs for shelter, food, and some nice branches for thermoregulation.

I walked this area on my break and saw one adult female, one 2 year old, and one juvenile western fence lizard. This week you’re looking for the juvenile.

Hint! It’s missing it’s tail. Luckily for this lizard, it can still regrow its tail. Unfortunately, it lost its entire tail so this is the only time in it’s entire life, the lizard will have the potential to regenerate. The ability to drop their tails at will is called caudal autonomy.

Can you #FindThatLizard?

Let me know below in the comments with #FoundThatLizard!!