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.

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