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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Bite Club

Let's just call it "critter weekend" here on PDP.

What are these two doing? When I came upon them they were completely still--they weren't fighting, and it doesn't look like sex. Then again, what do I know about lizard sex? It's been a long time since I dated reptiles.

Here's the side view:
That grey guy's got a grip on his brownish counterpart and they're clinging to the wall, as still as a pair of sconces. Maybe they're waiting for me to leave so they can get on with...whatever.
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34 comments:

  1. irinapicturesSeptember 19, 2010 at 12:19 AM

    I vote for Zen way of fighting. I do not like the expression on the face of the one at the left.

    The catching eye of the photographer is a mistery for me.

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  2. DinaSeptember 19, 2010 at 12:31 AM

    Really, the mystery of it all!
    What a catch for you. Your critters are quite beautiful, whatever they are doing.

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  3. J.J. in L.A.September 19, 2010 at 2:47 AM

    What great pics! They're pretty cute, for being lizards and all.

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  4. Sahildeki EvSeptember 19, 2010 at 6:06 AM

    Nice catch...Looks like they are not scared of you..

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  5. John SandelSeptember 19, 2010 at 6:53 AM

    "Aaaaaaaaand in THIS corner!"
    [… 10 years go by …]
    "From the wild northern regions of the Hahamongna Basin!"
    [… 6.7 years go by …]
    "Tipping his own scales at tha-ree point one ounces …"
    [… 12 years go by …]

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  6. Petrea BurchardSeptember 19, 2010 at 7:02 AM

    This morning I did a bit more research and discovered they could be either fighting or mating. If I knew how to tell their gender it would be easy to figure out. Scroll down this page at Californiaherps.com to "the breeding season" section and you'll see that head-biting is part of both activities.

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  7. Michael CoppessSeptember 19, 2010 at 7:27 AM

    Great shots of these alligator lizards. What is remarkable (besides the extraordinary photography!) is that they both appear to have their original tails. I think, as the alligators age, they tend to lose their tails through one way or another. That leads me to guess these may be two juvenile lizards.

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  8. ShanSeptember 19, 2010 at 7:47 AM

    Alpha lizarding? That or foreplay. I'm glad no one had his tool out yet and they were only in the whisper sweet nothing stage of courting. :)

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  9. Petrea BurchardSeptember 19, 2010 at 7:50 AM

    Youngsters they may be, Michael. Older folks don't go in for this stuff quite as much, do they?

    Shan, I agree, although it would have been a hell of a photo.

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  10. Chuck PefleySeptember 19, 2010 at 7:58 AM

    Obviously nerves of steel, too, as I'm confident they felt your footstep vibrations even through the concrete. Perhaps they're thinking "Human ... never see us if we're still". What they didn't know was that it was a fine photographer with a great eye they were dealing with.

    Well spotted, Petrea!

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  11. BellisSeptember 19, 2010 at 8:23 AM

    Those are fantastic photos. I can't help thinking of the cockney gecko in the Geiko advert.

    Chuck's probably right - they know you're there, but their mother always told them that if they stay perfectly still, they'll blend in with the background. I've a feeling the boy is asking the pretty girl for a date.

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  12. Petrea BurchardSeptember 19, 2010 at 8:26 AM

    Thanks, Chuck. Yeah, doesn't it seem like the gray one is looking at the camera? "Uh, scram, party-crasher," said with one's mouth full.

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  13. Mister EarlSeptember 19, 2010 at 8:59 AM

    Lizard Sex - Sounds like a good name for a band!

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  14. KatSeptember 19, 2010 at 9:11 AM

    whatever that is... it seems to be a private moment. Which, I supposed, could cover both murder and sex. We've got that brand of lizard in our yard too (and sometimes the house)... but I've never seen them doing this!

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  15. Jean SpitzerSeptember 19, 2010 at 9:12 AM

    Great photos. Would be interesting to see what they did once you moved on.

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  16. ben widemanSeptember 19, 2010 at 9:30 AM

    "It's been a long time since I dated reptiles."

    That might just be one of the best lines of the year.

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  17. TheChieftessSeptember 19, 2010 at 10:50 AM

    I agree with Ben...definitely one of the best lines of the year...

    Don't think I've ever seen lizards dancing like that...I think because our cats are too busy chasing them....

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  18. VandaSeptember 19, 2010 at 10:51 AM

    Isn't it obvious? They're cuddling.

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  19. Petrea BurchardSeptember 19, 2010 at 11:08 AM

    I wonder if animals think of it as privacy. Probably more like fear--"here's is a huge creature, what's it going to do?"

    Vanda: sweet nothings take on a new meaning.

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  20. Greg SweetSeptember 19, 2010 at 1:15 PM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgfzaAS4gWM

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  21. Mister EarlSeptember 19, 2010 at 1:34 PM

    Vanda: What's that?

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  22. John SandelSeptember 19, 2010 at 1:39 PM

    Group hug.

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  23. pasadenapioSeptember 19, 2010 at 5:43 PM

    Hey, we all love a little nibble on the neck!

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  24. markSeptember 19, 2010 at 6:52 PM

    Im going with the thought that one of them enjoyed a bit of rough sex. Im guessing they both went out for breakfast together the next morning. Great photos.

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  25. Petrea BurchardSeptember 19, 2010 at 7:33 PM

    A nibble on the neck, yes, Ann, but he doesn't have to bite my head off!

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  26. John SandelSeptember 19, 2010 at 7:35 PM

    I heard that.

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  27. Ms MSeptember 19, 2010 at 7:37 PM

    Amazing photos! I guess that's the way lizards whisper sweet nothings in their beloved's ear -- or assert who's boss....

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  28. Susan CampisiSeptember 19, 2010 at 9:01 PM

    Wow, those are great shots. I don't think I've ever seen such large lizards around here, and I certainly haven't seen two doing that dance.

    Great words to accompany the photos too. I'm glad it's been a long time since you've dated reptiles! I wish I could say the same.

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  29. VirginiaSeptember 19, 2010 at 9:03 PM

    TMI about Lizard Sex. Notice I'm not giving out any advice on what they're doing.
    V

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  30. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2010 at 10:14 PM

    Shocking. And I thought this was a family blog.

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  31. Petrea BurchardSeptember 19, 2010 at 10:14 PM

    One and the same perhaps, Ms. M?

    Susan, these are just the little ones we usually see--probably about as long as your hand (with the exception of the tail).

    Virginia, we still aren't sure if they're fighting or making love. I think we don't have nearly enough information.

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  32. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2010 at 10:16 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  33. Petrea BurchardSeptember 19, 2010 at 10:17 PM

    It's a family blog, Hiker. My family is two adults and a dog who can't read.

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  34. Mister EarlSeptember 20, 2010 at 6:18 AM

    Boz can't read?

    ReplyDelete

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