In this, the Year of the Lizard

[lady_kishiria]

Yesterday I found this very handsome lizard in our back hallway.

He didn't seem inclined to move, so I slid a piece of typing paper

under him and took him to the balcony to hang out. I took a

couple of pictures because I liked the look of him so much and am

wondering if any of you fine folks can tell me what he is:

Comments

[zare-k.livejournal.com]

No idea what kind it is, but the toes are excellent.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

We were very taken by his toes, yes.

[prushrush.livejournal.com]

I don't know, but Huge Ass MF-ing Lizard is NOT synonymous with "cute" or "handsome". That's just AMAZINGLY FRIGHTENING.

:)

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

Aw, he was only about five inches long!

[swestrup]

Nah, he's tiny and cute. Its guys like this Komodo Dragon, that are quite happy to eat people, that are scarey:

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

Lunch for the cats?

The toes are unusual, but nothing I've seen.

DV

[zeonchar.livejournal.com]

Actually, these things are very mean. I used to live in the canyon and we got a lot of these in our house. They bite HARD.

[zeonchar.livejournal.com]

Looks like a standard San Diego Alligator lizard.

[seki-raku.livejournal.com]

I did a bit of research. I think what you have there is a Granite Spiny Lizard or some deviation thereof. :) http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/s.orcutti.html

It doesn't look like like an alligator lizard, as they seem to be rather more sleek and slender.

[zeonchar.livejournal.com]

You're probably right.

[electorprince.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose this critter has blue marks on its belly or under the neck, does it?

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/kishiria/lizard2.jpg

I didn't get a good look at its underside. If I had seen blue or any other bright colour I'd have been alarmed, since bright colours are normally indicative of a creature being poisonous. It's since gone on its happy way; I am not in the habit of keeping wildlife as pets.

[android-raptor.livejournal.com]

You don't have to worry about it being venomous. There are only two types of venomous lizards in the world; the gilla monster and Mexican beaded lizard. BTW, it might be a desert igauna.

[electorprince.livejournal.com]

I wish you had. I'm under the notion it's a Western fence lizard or a Sagebrush lizard, and that's about the only way to tell them apart.

I have to do more reptilian research eventually, to prep one of the Boyz in the future.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

I don't think it was blue on the underside. I took a few moments to admire him as he was sitting on the balcony railing because I was *very* taken with him and if I recall correctly, his neck was white. I'm with seki_raku in that he's a Granite Spiny Lizard because of his weird feet. However, I'll look up the two lizards you mention and may revise my thesis.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

I can't rule out its being a female western fence lizard, but it definitely wasn't a sagebrush lizard. Wrong colouration.

Previously my exposure to wild lizards was the little ones I used to play with as a kid in Puerto Rico, where I spent a couple of summers (not recommended).

This is fun and educational!

[android-raptor.livejournal.com]

Or it might be this: http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/s.o.longipes.html

[caprine.livejournal.com]

He is very handsome!