Persian horned viper (Pseudocerastes persicus)

The day I came across my first and only Persian horned viper was quite special, mainly since it nestled comfortably in the intersection of my Venn diagram of happiness; climbing, reptiles and science. I’d set out for the day to climb a crumbly multi-pitch VS, inappropriately named Fossil Face (I didn’t see a single fossil), … Continue reading Persian horned viper (Pseudocerastes persicus) →

Schmidt’s fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus schmidti)

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) →