A little dinosaur warming in the morning sun. The Eastern Collared Lizard is one of the most colorful lizards in Arizona and typically presents itself dramatically against open rock and high perches, making it also one of the most photogenic. This one watched us searching for Prairie Rattlesnakes and darted under cover when it decided we weren’t leaving.
Western Banded Geckos are native to the southwest. Like many geckos, these little lizards can vocalize, emitting a squeaking bark when distressed. Unlike many geckos, however, they have eyelids, which give the appearance of having eyelashes with slightly raised scales. These are also not wall-climbers, lacking the clinging pads geckos are famous for. If you’re in an urban area, these are not the geckos you likely see around the patio light at night.
If you’re anywhere in the western US, these lizards are familiar. The Common Side-blotched Lizard lives throughout even the most urbanized areas of Phoenix and Tucson, running up and down the block and stucco approximation of natural habitat. This one is particularly colorful, giving me side-eye while I took a few photos.
