Green Anoles in October In Arkansas
Wildlife photographer Steve Creek writes about encountering Green Anoles while photographing in the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas in late October.
Lizard and Skink Tail Growth After Loss
A wildlife photographer documents the incredible process of tail regrowth in lizards and skinks at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
More Surprises from a Photography Pit Stop
A wildlife photographer describes encountering a Sculptured Pine Borer Beetle, Prairie Lizard, and dragonfly while hiking and captures close-up photos of them.
Celebrating the Prairie Lizard on World Lizard Day
A wildlife photographer highlights the small brown Prairie Lizard found across the prairies and grasslands of the central United States.
The Vibrant Dewlap of Green Anoles
I had the pleasure of photographing a Green Anole displaying its vibrant dewlap. This sighting was on my property near the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas.
Glass Lizard At Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge
While walking the Sandtown trail at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma I came across a Western Slender Glass Lizard.
Green Anole Climbing On Leaves
Green Anoles, also known as American chameleons, are fascinating lizards that are known for their climbing abilities. They are native to the southeastern United States and can often be found in gardens and parks, where they can be seen scurrying up trees and bushes in pursuit of their next meal.
Here is another Green Anole I photographed in a tree and it blends better with the leaves: Green Anole In A Tree
One of the most remarkable things about Green Anoles is their incredible grip. They have sharp claws that allow them to cling to surfaces with ease, making them excellent climbers. They are able to traverse the tiniest of twigs and leaves, and their tails provide additional stability as they move from one place to another.
The Green Anole’s agility is not limited to climbing. These lizards are also able to jump long distances, making them masters of the aerial realm as well. This ability to jump from one surface to another makes them difficult for predators to catch, and allows them to escape danger quickly.
In addition to their climbing and jumping skills, Green Anoles are also known for their color-changing ability. They are able to change their skin color from green to brown, which helps them to blend into their surroundings and avoid predators. This is an important adaptation for a species that [Read More…]
Lizard On Shed Antler
One day, I was hanging out on my deck and saw a Prairie Lizard climbing up one of the antlers. I quickly grabbed my camera to capture the moment. The little…
Lizard Growing New Tail
This Prairie Lizard looks like it is growing a new tail. If you look closely, you can see where the new section is. Everything about this Lizard seems different. It is a darker color. It looks to have dirt on the tip of its nose and mouth. It is larger than most in my area.
I see this Lizard often and had to move it once because it was in the grass I was mowing. It was easy to catch and didn’t struggle at all. It always has the dirt looking spot on its nose.
Prairie lizards are a species of lizards that are known for their ability to detach their tails as a defense mechanism. This is known as “autotomy.” The detached tail continues to wriggle, distracting predators and allowing the lizard to escape. The lizard then grows a new tail, a process called “tail regeneration.” Tail regeneration in prairie lizards typically occurs within a few weeks to a few months and the new tail is usually not as long or as strong as the original tail. This process is a natural survival mechanism and is common in many species of lizards.
I was hand-holding my camera and lens. The Lizard was on the steps going into my garden shed.
Technical:
• Location: [Read More…]
Green Anole On A Dead Log
This is the same Green Anole I posted a photo of Friday (Green Anole In A Tree). It was on a dead log near the tree it was on before. I got close for this photo.
How I Got The Shot – Green Anole On A Dead Log
I did the same as before I was on my property near the Ouachita National Forest here in Arkansas. I was hand-holding a Fujifilm X-T3 camera with a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens attached with a Fringer EF-FX Pro.
Photo taken on May 7, 2020
Camera Settings
- AV Mode
- Back-button focus
- Aperture f7.1
- ISO 640
- Shutter speed – 1/900 sec.
- Exposure Bias – 0 EV
- Auto White Balance
- Single Point, Continuous Auto Focus
- Multi Metering
- Focal Length – 400 mm
Green Anole In A Tree
Green Anoles are a common sight on many decks and patios, but there is something special about seeing these lizards blending in seamlessly with the lush…
Relaxed Prairie Lizard
It was funny seeing this Prairie Lizard with its back legs stretched out soaking up the morning sun. It couldn’t care less that I was around pointing a camera at it. It even dozed off a few times and I had to wait for it to open its eyes to get the photo I wanted.
The Lizards are the only wildlife that I can count on to get photos of here lately. I enjoy photographing them, but I am sure most people would get bored with my blog if I posted nothing but Lizard photos.
How I Got The Shot – Relaxed Prairie Lizard
I was walking my property with my Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera with a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens attached.
Camera Settings
- AV Mode
- Back-button focus
- Aperture f8.0
- ISO 640
- Shutter speed – 1/2000 sec.
- Auto White Balance
- Single Point, Continuous Auto Focus
- Multi Metering
- Focal Length – 255 mm
Here are a few more Prairie Lizards I photographed: Prairie Lizard Peeking From Behind Board, Prairie Lizard From Above and Prairie Lizard And Spider.
Green Anoles Are Becoming More Active
The warm weather has the Green Anoles active here in Arkansas. The past couple of days I have seen a total of five in one area of my yard. These lizards are…
Prairie Lizard Peeking From Behind Board
This is the same Prairie Lizard I posted about a couple of days ago (Prairie Lizard From Above). I have several of these lizards that like to hang around my deck at my cabin near the Ouachita National Forest here in Arkansas. I saw a second one just below this one but closer to the ground.
How I Got The Shot – Prairie Lizard
I was hand holding a Fujifilm X-T3 camera with a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens attached with a Fringer EF-FX Pro. I was shooting in aperture priority mode (AV) with a shutter speed of 1/340 of a second at f8 and the ISO at 800. White Balance on auto.
Lizard Facts
- Lizards are everywhere except Antarctica.
- They are cold-blooded animals and need sunlight to maintain their body temperature.
- They have ear openings and their eardrums are just below the surface of their skin. Lizards are not able to hear as well as we do, but their hearing is better than snakes.
- Lizards shed their old skin. Snakes lose their entire skin in one piece, while the skin of a lizard peels off in tiny parts.
- Most lizards replace their teeth throughout life, except the chameleon and the Agamid lizards.
Prairie Lizard From Above
I had the pleasure of encountering a Prairie Lizard on the steps of my cabin located near the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas.
Prairie Lizard And Spider
Look close and you can see a spider on the back of this Prairie Lizard that I photographed here in Arkansas. The spider was crawling all over this lizard and the lizard didn’t pay it any attention. Prairie Lizards do eat spiders but It was busy watching me.
How I Got The Shot – Prairie Lizard
I have an area on my property near the Ouachita National Forest that I can find these lizards. It is an area with several logs that are in a pile.
I was hand holding a Fujifilm X-T3 camera with a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens attached with a Fringer EF-FX Pro. I was shooting in aperture priority mode (AV) with a shutter speed of 1/1300 of a second at f8 and the ISO at 800. I also had a -0.3 exposure value. White Balance was set on auto.
Prairie Lizard Facts
- Male fence lizards flash the blue scales on their underbelly to claim territory. They also do push-ups and head-bobs to discourage other males from infiltrating their territories. This also occurs during mating.
- Prairie lizards are insectivores that feed on most invertebrates and arthropods such as ants, beetles, moths, spiders, grasshoppers, and stink bugs.
- Prairie Lizard can drop its tail to escape predators. The tail [Read More…]