These handsome little lizards proved to be quite tricksome to find, owing to their fairly specific habitat requirements. Once we'd actually found a couple of the elusive areas that ticked all of the microhabitat boxes, they were pretty abundant. The species is notoriously skittish (apparently even more so when you have a camera), so the … Continue reading Dalmatian Algyroides (Algyroides nigropunctatus)
The Galápagos Islands, a place I have regularly found myself drifting away to in between bouts of lying on the floor in existential dread. Social distancing is old news over there - there's been a 2m limit between you and the animals ever since sailors became overly fond of the taste of tortoise soup. It's … Continue reading Santa Cruz lava lizard (Microlophus indefatigabilis)
Ah the basilisks, while certainly on the must-see list for any self respecting herpetologist, this is not some giant, fictional snake from Harry Potter. Perhaps more commonly known as the Jesus Christ lizards, basilisks are best known for their holy abilities. Abilities that most can only wish they were able to do. No! not turning … Continue reading Western Basilisk (Basiliscus galeritus)
Despite supposedly being one of the more common species in the Amazon, this anole somehow eluded me until this year. The most likely reason for this is that they were all hanging out in the canopy instead of down in the forest where they are supposed to be! After Giselle (the ornithologist) told me for … Continue reading Amazon bark anole (Anolis ortonii)
Ah, the common lizard. They may not be as big, cool or colourful as some other herps, but it’s the very species that allows me to persist in the UK without breaking down into a quivering mess from a lack of reptile interaction (just…). Once you know where to look this hardy little lacertid can … Continue reading Common lizard (Zootoca vivipara)
It takes a lot to survive the extreme temperatures of the desert, but the lizards of the genus Acanthodactylus have managed it pretty well. I used to see them darting between spindly bushes quite frequently in the afternoons and early mornings in the desert. Stay out much later and they’d pretty much evaporate on the spot in … Continue reading Schmidt’s fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus schmidti)
Hampi is a UNESCO World heritage site in Karnataka, India. It was once the centre of the Hindu Vijayanagara empire but today exits as a collection of thousands of temple ruins, interspersed amongst granite outcrops and boulders - some of the oldest rock on Earth! I was there to sample the area's bouldering and between … Continue reading Indian rock agama (Psammophilus dorsalis)
On my flight to the Galápagos I threw up five times (dry retching after no. 3) which was enough for the passengers on my row to justifiably move away. The next morning, I dragged my frail body across Puerto Ayora to Tortuga Bay, driven by the raw excitement of seeing marine iguanas for the first … Continue reading Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
This stunning lizard is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka, occurring mostly in the southwestern lowland wet zone where it is widely, but patchily, distributed. Combined with habitat destruction, further isolating populations, this may lead to genetic bottlenecking of this species in the future. It is currently listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN. I … Continue reading Whistling lizard (Calotes liolepis)
Tales of Scales 