Sonoron Spotted Whiptail

[jrodda]

Been knocking in Tustin the last week or so and been seeing a ton of whiptails. Not used to seeing much outside of fence lizards being from VC. Finally googled them to confirm what I was looking at and noticed the Sonoran Spotted Whiptail has been introduced specifically to this area somehow. California Herp's map has the tiniest dot marked within OC for them. I will make it my secondary task for the day to get a good pic of one. They seem impossible to catch without a trap or some misting.

https://californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/a.sonorae.html

Also noted there were chameleons introduced to Laguna and Morro Bay and they've sustained themselves for a while. Gotta make a hike in Laguna to spot one of them.

[Latimeria]

Been knocking in Tustin the last week or so and been seeing a ton of whiptails. Not used to seeing much outside of fence lizards being from VC. Finally googled them to confirm what I was looking at and noticed the Sonoran Spotted Whiptail has been introduced specifically to this area somehow. California Herp's map has the tiniest dot marked within OC for them. I will make it my secondary task for the day to get a good pic of one. They seem impossible to catch without a trap or some misting.

https://californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/a.sonorae.html

Also noted there were chameleons introduced to Laguna and Morro Bay and they've sustained themselves for a while. Gotta make a hike in Laguna to spot one of them.

Nice catch!  Back when I was working at the animal park, I would make a noose at the end of long thin twig or heavy stiff grass and rope them from like 4 feet away.  Not easy, but I've caught a few whiptails and other lizards that way.  I hope you catch some.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=L5oCDecQ&id=E2FA55E8DE4798FABB1D3C42B72AF0A48443AB89&thid=OIP.L5oCDecQr0hjz_TeQP1KRwHaEK&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fi.ytimg.com%2fvi%2fUKqGtcz4qOw%2fmaxresdefault.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR.2f9a020de710af4863cff4de40fd4a47%3frik%3diatDhKTwKrdCPA%26pid%3dImgRaw%26r%3d0&exph=720&expw=1280&q=catching+lizards+%2b+noose+rig&simid=608040483380402358&FORM=IRPRST&ck=9B198F134C07A7BC22B0B56F07AA6EE5&selectedIndex=60&adlt=STRICT&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0

[xjchad]

Very cool Jeremy! 

I used to do the same thing Tom, only I'd use a lasso of dental floss on the end of a fishing pole.

[jrodda]

Haven't been able to catch one but got a very clear visual on the back. Definitely the sonoran spotted whiptail vs the other indigenous species.

[vdisney]

Just when I thought I saw it all, 'Lassoing' lizards??

[Latimeria]

Just when I thought I saw it all, 'Lassoing' lizards??

It's fishing for lizards!  I was taught this trick back in my herpetology class in college.   I couldn't believe when I saw it work for the first time! lol

[xjchad]

Nice one Jeremy!

[Tim524]

Them lizards are all over the place up here in Valley Center, kids catch them all the time and the dog too, unfortunately. Cool to have them around