Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think this is a neat shot of a fairly uncommon lizard. Unfortunately I didn't find it but I'll have my day.

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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Although the barring extends further up than normal for the species, I'm going to guess Cope's leopard lizard (Gambelia copei). Otherwise a drab example of the more common long-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia wislizenii).

Yup, it is a Copes Leopard Lizard (or so I'm told)
Here is a shot of two Long nose Leopads that I saw in the Mojave last week as a comparison.
This one could care less how close I got.

And this female in breeding colors was spectacular. She was well over 12 inches long and looked like a little dinosaur but before I could get to her with the sun behand me she took off. So, this is the best I got.

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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

EJ, did you find the Cope's in the wild in San Diego?

I cannot tell a lie. I did not find it. I have a friend who has them relatively all over his property and he provided the opportunity to photograph it. I really don't see what the fuss over this lizard is.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I didn't ans your question.
It was found and is relatively common around Jacumba and the Campo area. As with most herps, you have to hit it at the right place and the right time and both of those seem to be a small window.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

NT

Ah-ha! So the varmints are finally up and about, huh, EJ?
I'll be back out your way in a couple of weeks and G. copeii remains very high on the list. Thanx for posting. Cheers/Dick