Yarrow's Spiny Lizard

Update: January 24, 2011:
I missed posting this to Macro Monday by a day when I first posted this (I guess I forgot what day it was), and it has always bugged me. Hopefully no one minds using this old post for the January 24 Macro Monday!

Ramsey Canyon in the Arizona Huachuca mountains is world renowned for its diversity of life. The majority of the attention it receives is on the large number of hummingbird species that frequent the area, as well as a number of other bird and butterfly species that are difficult to find anywhere else in the USA outside of the 'sky islands'.

However, one of my favorite endemic species is the Yarrow's Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus jarrovii). This lizard is confined to specific habitats in the sky islands, making it a rarity of sorts. However, when in the correct habitat they are easy to find and generally relatively tame.

This lizard let me snap over 30 shots from various angles, allowing me to get the one above showing off the blue throat and the various other colors of its scales.  In fact, I was so close that I was at the limit of the close-focus capability of my 300mm F/4 lens.

The Yarrow's Spiny Lizard is most likely to be seen near creek beds in rocky canyons, such as Madera Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, Miller Canyon, etc.

Yarrow's Spiny Lizard may be casually confused with other similar sized Sceloporus species, but the best distinguishing field mark is a black collar that is usually plainly evident.  Both of the above photos show this feature.