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Several species of collared lizards in the genus Crotaphytus inhabit the warm regions of western North America; this one is the Great Basin collared lizard, C. bicinctores (another page shows the eastern collared lizard, C. collaris). All species of collared lizards are large, fast (they can run on their hind legs at high speed), colorful, and alert -- so a long lens is useful for getting close-ups. They feed on smaller lizards and invertebrates, watching from rocks or other lookout points. These photos show both females with pale bellies and orange markings (apparently indicating that they are carrying eggs) and males, with dark blue-gray patches on the throat and underside. The male immediately below at left is in particularly bright breeding colors. The photos were taken in Joshua Tree National Park; some were shot on a hot day and in these images you can see the lizard carefully holding its toes above the hot rock it is sitting on. |
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