lizard identification

[ernie]

I'm hoping someone can help me identify the lizard pictured at
http://picasaweb.google.com/Ernie.Rael/Animals/photo#5130946337784823634.

I took this Oct 12, 2007
Sonoran Desert National Monument, Table Top Wilderness, Lava Flow
South trail.
Recollection is fading, but a good 12 inches, or more, including tail.
Stayed absolutely motionless though I was within a few feet.

I've done some looking online, but no match yet.

Thanks,
-ernie

PS. The pictures of the headless rattlesnake were taken the day after
in the same National Mounument, North Maricopa Wilderness, Brittlebush
trail. After I took the first picture, the snake started moving
(slowly, I did hear a slight rattle) the uncoiled picture is the last
I took before I had to move on. I'm wondering what animal might have
done this; is Javelina a candidate?

[Douglas Brown]

Looks like a Sceloporus poinsettii (crevice spiny lizard). The
clearly banded tail and sharply keeled scales make that the likeliest
suspect. The ex-rattlesnake is a Crotalus atrox (western
diamondback).

D

I'm hoping someone can help me identify the lizard pictured athttp://picasaweb.google.com/Ernie.Rael/Animals/photo#5130946337784823634.
I took this Oct 12, 2007
Sonoran Desert National Monument, Table Top Wilderness, Lava Flow
South trail.
Recollection is fading, but a good 12 inches, or more, including tail.
Stayed absolutely motionless though I was within a few feet.
I've done some looking online, but no match yet.
Thanks,
-ernie
PS. The pictures of the headless rattlesnake were taken the day after
in the same National Mounument, North Maricopa Wilderness, Brittlebush
trail. After I took the first picture, the snake started moving
(slowly, I did hear a slight rattle) the uncoiled picture is the last
I took before I had to move on. I'm wondering what animal might have
done this; is Javelina a candidate?

[The Ranger]

Post by Douglas Brown

Post by ernie
I'm hoping someone can help me identify the lizard
pictured at
http://picasaweb.google.com/Ernie.Rael/Animals/photo#5130946337784823634.
I took this Oct 12, 2007
Sonoran Desert National Monument, Table Top Wilderness,
Lava Flow South trail. Recollection is fading, but a good 12
inches, or more, including tail. Stayed absolutely motionless
though I was within a few feet.
I've done some looking online, but no match yet.

Looks like a Sceloporus poinsettii (crevice spiny lizard). The
clearly banded tail and sharply keeled scales make that the
likeliest suspect.

The furthest west I could find mention of that particular species
is New Mexico. How do you suppose it got across 1-1/2 states
(human intervention, maybe?)

The Ranger