Green Spiny Lizard

Kevin spotted this Green Spiny Lizard basking in the sun on our wood pile. Kevin had seen it yesterday and was telling me all about it and its beautiful colours. He knew I was eager to get a glance, so he came to get me. I quickly went in to get my camera. At first, I didn't want to stand too close and ruin my chances of getting a good picture. I was very quiet, trying not to disturb it. You have to look very carefully, in the centre of the picture, on the log.

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I started taking pictures, but even with the sound of the camera's 'click', the lizard remained still, seemingly not bothered by my presence. I approached one step at a time, taking a picture every time until I was about a foot away. It was pretty thrilling. He is just so spectacularly beautiful. And he's completely harmless. We know it's a male because of all its vivid colours. Females are more brown. You will also notice the very tip of his tail is greyish black. This is where it was cut off by either a predator biting it or getting it caught in something. When he loses part of his tail like that, it grows back. Fascinating stuff. I feel like I'm on our own Discovery Channel program :)

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