#ornate tree lizard

[emmebeephotography]

Ornate Tree Lizard Sweetwater Wetlands Tucson, AZ July 2021

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Admiring the Ornate Tree Lizard

The ornate tree lizard, or more commonly, simply the tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) is a species of lizard commonly found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. True to their name, they live primarily in riparian or dry forest areas, although they can also be found in scrubland, deserts, and urban areas. Tree lizards can be highly territorial, and an area can consist of a dominant male and several lesser males. Females have their own, individual territories that do not over lap. Despite their small size, barely two inches long, tree lizards can defend large territories, sometimes up to 250 square feet.

Tree lizards spend a majority of their time competing with other males, thermoregulating, or hunting. They are ambush predators, preferring to wait motionless for unsuspecting insects and arachnids to wander into their range. Their ability to remain still, combined with their dull mottled backs, also makes for excellent camouflage against larger predators like birds and snakes. The bright undersides of tree lizards, on the other hand, serve a very different purpose: mating.

In males, the coloration of the belly and throat patch (also known as the dewlap) are an important part of male mating competitions. They can signal age, health, and aggressiveness when flashed at another male in a four-legged pushup characteristic of initiating fights. Similarly, when females are carrying eggs, their dewlaps and underbellies can turn orange or red. After laying a clutch of up to thirteen eggs, typically under a rock or in a previously-dug hole, the female’s coloration fades. A month later, juvenile tree lizards hatch, already ready to survive independently.

Conservation status: Not threatened. Due to their wide range and adabtability, the ornate tree lizard population is large and quite stable. Future threats may include climate change and habitat destruction.

[fatchance]

Bedazzled: Male ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) in mating colors, at San Pedro House, Cochise County, Arizona. In addition to his striking turquoise scales, this lizard put on a nice territorial push-up display for me—or maybe there was a watching female or competitor nearby that I couldn’t see. There is some suggestion that these calisthenics are ritualized, that the lizards’ strength displays occur at regular intervals regardless of who’s watching. In any case, the push-ups let females see what good shape he’s in—just look at those thighs!—and warn off other males without having to engage in actual physical confrontation. 

[skidar]

Darius and Celia are two new characters in the works. Darius is an Ornate Tree Lizard and Celia is a Zebra Tailed Lizard. 

Darius lost his arm in the Civil War after a wealthy Confederate paid him to take his place in the draft. When Darius lost his arm the person decided not to pay him because he didn’t last as long as he’d thought. Darius now works as a handyman for Celia at her boarding house. Celia was the victim of reptilian hate and burned badly as a kid when her father and her were attacked walking home by a bunch of rodents. She’s deathly afraid of rodents and rarely ventures out of the lizard-dense sections of Tucson. 

Though a little scuffed up, these two still hold their heads high and are making the most of their situation. Darius does harbor a crush for Miss Celia but doesn’t have the guts to ask her out. 

Making new characters is the best way for me to branch out in my Skytown ‘verse species. Surprisingly, a lot of southwest lizards have some gorgeous blue, teal and green markings hidden away on their throats and bellies. Better make some room, Delgado. 

[natural-reflection]

Ornate Tree Lizard Urosaurus ornatus

Conan, Texas, United States, 2015 Garner State Park

[fatchance]

Reptile rescue: The cat found a little playmate in a cool dark corner of the living room this morning. Captured, photographed, and released outdoors before the games got too rough.

Ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus), in Glendale, Arizona. This lizard was tiny, only about an inch long from snout to vent (2.5 cm).

[fatchance]

Ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus), on the garden wall, Glendale, Arizona.

[fatchance]

Ornate tree lizard. Plain tree.