 | mobile - desktop |
|
| mobile - desktop |
|
 |
 |
News & Events:
|
Posted by Nathan619 on July 31, 2002 at 18:26:18:
In Reply to: Is this an alligator lizard? posted by nate351 on July 29, 2002 at 23:00:02:
:Hey everyone.
:I was just camping last week outside of Vancouver, WA and playing with my youngest siblings (ages 5 and 8). As we walked along a sunny shore of a lake, I saw and caught the largest garter snake I have ever seen. I made a big fuss over running down and catching it up just like Steve Irwin (I was even in Khaki shorts), and then came back and gave a narration to the kids, teaching them aboutthe snake. As soon as I let it go, the little boy spotted a small lizard which I quickly and theatrically caught as well.
:My question is that I identified it as an aligator lizard, and I have ever since been questioning that diagnosis. I rarely see lizards in the NW and the only ones I have were aligator lizards. This lizard, however, had a tail about as long as it's body, and had slightly keeled scales. It's limbs were not short and stubby, and it didn't 'slither' as much as other aligator lizards I have seen. However, it did resemble one (the head was especially aligator-like). My second thought, after proclaiming it an aligator) was that it looked almost like an iguanid. Alligators look more like skinks, right? It was perhaps 6-7 inches STL. Any ideas?
:Thanks,
:nate.
How fast was it? Did it bare any patterns? If the tail was a little longer it could've been a whiptail a little out of it's home range. The keeled scales make me want to say a Western Fence though. I have tons of closeups of western fence lizards, alligator Lizards, and others if you want I can send you some.
