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(Scleroporus occidentalis)
This is a Western Fence Lizard. i classified it as a male because of the bluish coloration on its back . A female lacks this bluish coloration. http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?searc...... Studies have shown that Lyme disease is lower in areas where the lizards occur. When ticks carrying Lyme disease feed on these lizards' blood (which they commonly do, especially around their ears), a protein in their blood kills the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The ticks' blood is therefore cleansed and no longer carries Lyme disease.
9 Comments
Looks like this is " Sceloporus occidentalis taylori"
As with other wild life looks like we have several sub species of th eWestern Fence Lizard.
Beautiful colors on this one!
Studies have shown that Lyme disease is lower in areas where the lizards occur. When ticks carrying Lyme disease feed on these lizards' blood (which they commonly do, especially around their ears), a protein in their blood kills the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The ticks' blood is therefore cleansed and no longer carries Lyme disease.
Beautiful shot, the blue scales really show up nicely here.
1Sarah2,Thanks so much for the link that you had provided for the female. It took me only a second to ID this!!
What a nice teal coloration. I wasn't sure what shade of blue it would be. No doubt the cat wasn't too sure what to make of him.
Thanks Alice. He was basking in the sun. The cat just sat next to him,watching for a long time.
Nice Lizard.
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/686...
This is my spotting of a female . You can clearly see the difference in coloration.