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ARIZONA
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April 2001
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Click on any
photo to see a larger version
 2 of 3 
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Coachwhip.
Yeah, he bit. Actually, I had no problem
tailing him; he was stretched out on the road and, surprisingly, not moving
very fast. Grabbed him behind the head
after the old pull-'em-through-the-pants-legs routine (below the knees!).
Wanted to get a better picture of his head, so I let go for the photo. He
held still long enough to take a few pics, then turned and caught me right on
the ball of my thumb. From this diagnostic we confirmed species
identification; they’re not nicknamed “Nasty-cophis” for nothing.
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Coachwhip
Masticophis flagellum
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Although disappointed not to find a Gila
Monster, we were pleased to find a bunch of other desert lizards:
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Side-blotched
Lizard
Uta stansburiana
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Greater
Earless Lizard
Cophosaurus texanus
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Tree
Lizard
Urosaurus ornatus
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Desert
Iguana
Dipsosaurus dorsalis
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Were also thrilled
to find this girl in a small wash. Don't know how rare or common they are, but I
wasn't expecting to see one, so it was one of the highlights.
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Desert
Tortoise
Gopherus agassizii
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