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Sceloporus woodi
approx. 5 inches long
spotted in scrubland sanctuary
The scrub lizard is not listed legally as a threatened or endangered species at the state or federal level. The Florida Committee on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals, a group of experts on the flora and fauna of Florida, has classified this species as threatened. The primary conservation concern for scrub lizards is loss of habitat. During the last two decades, large areas of scrub have been converted to urban development and agriculture. Loss of habitat has caused a decline in scrub lizard populations and increased isolation of remaining populations. Small, fragmented populations are more vulnerable to extinction. Also, as small patches of habitat become more isolated, by housing projects and other development, lizards are not able to move between habitat patches to repopulate areas. Long-term survival of the Florida scrub lizard is dependent upon preservation of sufficient scrub habitat through growth management. Suppression of fires, which are a natural component of the scrub ecosystem, also has resulted in habitat loss for scrub lizards. Scrub management should incorporate prescribed burns, or other practices, to reduce shrubs and ground cover and maintain open, sandy habitat for lizards.
4 Comments
Grandioso escamado bello
Thanks, Guys. Usually these fellows are not so visible, but it's breeding season and they were out in force. @Greg: that shot was a matter of mad good fortune. I was shooting them as the appeared. This one ran from a low shrub across the sand and disappeared behind a burned pine stump. I thought I'd lost the opportunity until he popped his head above the stump and I just pointed the camera in that direction. I've added two more photos that wouldn't load last night.
Great composition in the first shot. Good aperture setting catching the foreground while bluring out the background as well as very nice color contrasts. Here Here now, nicely done.
Grate spotting and photos!