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Basking Interrupted (i)

Basking Interrupted (i)

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Not selected for Google Earth [?] - ID: 11953092

The (American) Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus) is a common lizard. They are usually black or brown. Juvenile skinks have a bright blue tail.

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Comments (20)

jgevans, on July 10, 2008, said:

hamzars, thanks for the compliment! For the first time I see one this year, the hardly-ever-seen lizard came out yesterday for a tiny bit of sun bathing on a flat smooth rock. He turned to look at me when the camera made noise then quickly disappeared underneath another rock. Greetings from USA, Jean

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Winu, on July 19, 2008, said:

very beautyful and interesting lizard.

Greetings. Winu

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jgevans, on July 19, 2008, said:

Winu, yes this is an interesting lizard. It has this blue tail when young and later it turns to a regular brown color as it ages. The most interesting thing about this lizard is that it can lose it's tail when a predator grabs at it. It tail just falls off and lays there writhing like a poor creature in pain for several minutes. I have not timed it as I usually find it as disgusting as it is interesting. After the tail falls off, the lizard makes a hasty exit to safety. The predator, (usually a cat when I see) looks at the blue tail and ignores the path that the lizard took. The lizard lives, sort of like having a second life or chance at life. When the tail is off, the lizard gets a new one. The new one is a little shorter than the first and it doesn't have bones inside, just cartilage. It also is never blue again, just pinkish at first then turns brown. They are interesting, I agree. Thanks for your comment, Jean

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DiggaTwigga, on July 20, 2008, said:

Wow this lizard has very special colors. I like this shot. You have many great macro photos. Thank you for your kind comment and voting my Contest

Greetings from Germany

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jgevans, on July 20, 2008, said:

You are welcome, DiggaTwigga.

Jean

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© DerSIGGY, on July 26, 2008, said:

Beautiful colors, Jean! Here, at my home, you can see only little brown lizards, but they are very agile and funny!

Greetings,

Siggy

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jgevans, on July 27, 2008, said:

Siggy, I agree that lizards are fun to watch if you get a glimpse of them. Thanks again for so many nice comments! Jean

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Mariarosa e Piero, on July 28, 2008, said:

Hi Jgevans, nice interesting shot!!We have only green lizards in Italy-Ciao Mariarosa Also your dark butterflies are beautiful!!!!!!! Please visit my gallery!!!! CIAO

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jgevans, on July 28, 2008, said:

Mariarosa e Piero, Thank you! I did not know that. Do any of them re-grow their tails?

You have an intersting gallery with lots of art, I am looking forward to have a close look later, I have to leave for now.

Greetings to Italy, Jean in USA

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© Kojak, on September 8, 2008, said:

Fantastic and beautiful animal! Greetings from a German Lizard!

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jgevans, on September 8, 2008, said:

© Kojak, thanks for the link, that is a great photo and a wonderful and interesting German lizard. Thanks for your visit!

Jean

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Dario.M, on May 5, 2009, said:

This is a nice capature

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jgevans, on May 6, 2009, said:

DarioM, thank you very much. Thank you for your nice visit in my gallery, I appreciate you visit so much.

Jean

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Aganto Seno, on February 1, 2010, said:

Beautiful skink. Is that Emoia similis? We have it here, but I'm not sure its the same species. Greetings from Indonesia. My January contest: A moment with the dragon

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jgevans, on February 1, 2010, said:

Aganto Seno, this lizard or skink is a Cryptoblepharus egeriae. When it is young, a juvenile, it has a blue tail. If a predator tries to catch it, the lizard can pop off its tail and escape as the tail wriggles something fierce for a long while after the lizard is gone. It really is creepy to witness. But the lizard lives another day and it gets a new tail, not blue and a bit shorter.

Good luck in the contest! Greetings to you and Indonesia!

Jean

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Mimmi Cassola, on March 16, 2010, said:

What a wonderful lizard, Jean! A best of for it!

Mimmi Cassola

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longdistancer, on July 28, 2010, said:

Lovely!!:)

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jgevans, on July 28, 2010, said:

Mimmi Cassola, thank you for that lovely compliment ... way back in March! Please pardon my delay.

longdistancer, thank you!

Jean

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ul4eto, on February 7, 2011, said:

Interesting! Like!

Greetings from Bulgaria!

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Hank Myers, on March 20, said:

Wow, I've seen a lot of these since I moved over here and never knew they lose the blue color. Interesting.

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