Scelaphorus undulatus hyacinthinus, the Northern Fence Lizard. Very common in the state of Arkansas. Our only "spiny" lizard species. The skittering creature that rattles the leaves when it suddenly dashes away. Seeks shelter on logs and treetrunks. Males have the stunning blue throat and belly patches. Females are smaller and have very little color beneath.

Male with his blue patches glowing from his treelimb perch. This day they were climbing trees and snapping insects out of the air.

Females of the Northern Fence are much more strongly marked dorsally. With the Vs and Ws going for them on that copper and gray back. This one was catching some much needed warmth on a cool spring day.

Female face in spring.

Males are sometimes nearly black. This was a young spring male.

This is the southern form, S. undulatus undulatus. From Florida. Reportedly blacker beneath in both sexes. This one looks more marked facially as well.

This is Scelaphorus woodi, the Florida Scrub Lizard. Manhandled by me in the Florida scrub of north Florida. Note the fine orange brown stripe down the side which is distinctive in this group. Has the blue throat marks of our local fence and the belly patches of blue as well as a very red-brown tail. Nice creature. Lives in several disjunctive areas of Florida only.

The magnificent Collared Lizard, Crotaphytus collaris collaris. This is a male with all that blue-green in the body. Creatures of northwest Arkansas who love rockpiles and limestone ledges. This is from Bob Barber's pet colony. Grow up to 14 inches in length. Famous for running on the hind legs when up to full evasion speed.

This is a juvenile female I believe. Only about 7 inches in length from the Petit Jean colony. Very striking colors with none of the blues and greens of the big males.

This is a male from the Petit Jean colony. More orange than I've ever seen. This was about 20 inches long with the tail.

This is the same male. Full length shot. I'm still amazed at him.