A little bit off topic, but still interesting to me.
By Garry Rogers
More than half of the lizard species found in the U. S. are present in Arizona. They are a colorful group with fascinating life histories. Lizards help control ants, termites, and other insects, and with only one exception, the Gila Monster, they are not venomous. Field guides are available online (Arizona Herpetological Association, Brennan, 2008), and in print (Jones and Lovich, 2009, and Stebbins, 1966).
The photograph shows a Plateau Fence Lizard. These lizards do like fences, but they will sit on any convenient object that gives them an elevated view. They are found throughout central and northern Arizona.
Lizards are not descended from dinosaurs. They appeared about the same time and lived with dinosaurs, but they are not closely related. Lizard legs extend to the sides of the body rather than projecting downward or forward. Lizards became a separate group in the Late Triassic, over 200…
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