The decision is yours.
It's a megamezozoic smackdown pitting the verdant talents of the Carolina Anole against the cryptic subtlety of the Fence Lizard.
Let's meet the contenders ...
First up is Anole, known for his ability to change colors using special cells called chromatophores. Each chromatophore is a little packet of pigment. If he needs to be green, Anole shrinks the brown chromatophores and expands the green ones.
Imagine looking at a green umbrella that is closed and pointing directly at you.
You should be seeing a small circle of green ... just a pinpoint really.
Now imagine your friend holding the umbrella opens it while still pointing it at you.
Whoa! Green city!
Simple.
Except ... you can't do it, chromatophoreless human.
For the talent requirement, Anole will perform his territorial, lizard equivalent of the primate male's beating of the chest. In the picture above, Anole is composing himself and mentally preparing for the event.
And there we have it ladies and gentlemen!
A perfect flaring of the red throat patch, look at me, look at me, display.
This is really going to earn some points with the judges.
Now it's time for the challenger, Fence.
Fence is unable to change colors like Anole, but sports a treebarkian camo pattern that allows Fence to blend into the background of his favorite habitat, (no not fences) Oak trees.
Fence's first event is titled, "Being The Tree".
It's a beautiful rendition of tree bark with just a hint of pensiveness.
Very well done, Fence.
Fence's talent entry should be a favorite of many of you who read Pure Florida ...
Fence's talent entry should be a favorite of many of you who read Pure Florida ...
... A perfectly executed tree hug!
Outstanding Fence! Well done, well done!
Feeling cocky after that performance, Fence is posing and playing to the crowd.
Careful Fence, excessive celebration may be penalized!
There you have it folks, the first Lizard Lounge Off competition has come to a close.
All that's left is the judging and that is up to you.
Who will be voted the coveted "Lithesome Lizard" award?
Please vote early and often ... this is Florida after all.
34 comments:
I vote for Anole. I'm a sucker for a flaring red throat patch! Gets me every time!
Fence put in a good attempt. Kudo's to him!
Patti
Personally I have to go with the anole too. I have always liked them...loved seeing them scuttle all over the streets in Key West during my one excursion to Florida...and I never was fond of fence sitters.
"back in the day", the little green anoles were everywhere - then the Cuban anoles came in, drove them high and north - don't know if the Fence Lizard is a Florida native, but the green anole is, so I'll vote for him. marge
Of course the anole is most beautiful and so tricky with that red throat, but if we're going for one that won't be easily seen by predators, well you just can't beat the fence lizard.
Another vote for the anole!!! I miss the little green dudes!!! The cuban brown anoles have taken over so many areas, I haven't seen a green one in a long time.
Side note, when I was down in Homestead at Coral Castle in Jan, I saw a LOT of new species of lizards all over the place. I grew up around there and wondered what they were. Found out that when Hurricane Andrew blew thru and destroyed Miami's Metro Zoo, a lot of the lizards and snakes got out in the wild. And they have flourished! Never saw a green anole there either.
I have to disagree as I always vote for the underdog, the fence lizard has my vote. Look how he very quietly and humbly goes about his work. Never seeking the limelight, always content to be behind the scenes. Yes, the fence lizard should be crowned king.
anole.
Well, I have to go with the anole if you're talking loungieness. I mean, with the legs thrown back and that 'heeey, babee' look in his eye. He's just so cool, daddy.
I'm going to have to go with the fence lizard.
I abstain--they're both such fine specimins, how could you choose?
I'm going to have to go with Fence. That last photo of him really showcased his beauty.
dictionary.com defines:
–adjective, lith⋅er, lith⋅est.
bending readily; pliant; limber; supple; flexible: the lithe body of a ballerina.
In a word, anole.
(had you chosen another adjective...)
I couldn't let one or the other know I voted against them for they both keep the insect population around Pure Florida bareable! However while some ladies may go for that flashy red throat thing, I agree with Cathy S and find the subtle "Hey babe, wanna come over to my stump" look of Mr. Fence alluring! Mrs. FC
The anole!!! The Florida native by all means.Does that Cubano lizard even have a Green Card?
Heck, I think they both taste good.
Most Lithesome: Clearly Anole!
Any of the 3 poses dominate the competition.
Another vote for the Anole. He is, indeed, most lithesome.
Since the blue-tailed skink is not a contender, I'm going to go with the fence lizard. We have those in Missouri, so go team!
At first I'd go with the anole; definitely more showmanship there. But then the fence lizard appeals to my appreciation for earthiness and humility. Chromatophores be damned, I'll go for the fence lizard!
Definately the Anole..it's native. I have a series of photos of one turning from green to brown before she jumped into a green tree..I'll be posting them one of these days.
www.wildlifearoundus.blogspot.com
Green is my favorite color. Anole.
I, too, have to go against the flow. Fence takes it every time for me. And who could resist the look in that first shot?!
Anole!
Hard to decide. Our green anoles are rapidly being displaced by the invasive Cuban anole....but I think I have to go with the fence lizard.
I vote Anole. Only you could have turned lizards into an exciting competition!
1) Florida has relatively CLEAN elections.
2) I'm voting for the fence lizard cause I don't see them everyday.
3) New Culinary Throwdown Challenge Issued.
Wow! Thanks voters!
At this point, just after Chef Troll's comment, I count 14 votes for Anole and 10 for Fence.
Two people essentially abstained, one clearly, the other thinking with her stomach LOL!
Swampy brings up a good point and is sticking to the implied judging criteria ... smarty pants.
Too funny.
Both of these lizards are natives by the way... seemed that there might have been some confusion on that point.
First posting attempt appeared to bomb, forgive if duplicate...
I'm going to have to do a write-in for the proliferate brown anole... The past week has seen the arrival of a LARGE number of 1 1/4" newbies in the garden. However, our native Carolina greens, after getting knocked back following the initial arrival of the browns here in north Brevard in the early 1980s, are now coexisting with them quite well, and we have plenty of both. Lately we've been seeing more and more browns with brick-red heads. No fence lizards here, but plenty of those nasty skinks getting into the garage, funny little translucent house geckoes sneaking in just about everywhere, and a rare glass snake. I haven't seen a race runner here in years, all killed by a space cantaloupe impact maybe. And thankfully, our town has seen only one feral Iguana report so far, and none of those big, mean, whooping Cuban communist lizards seen in S FL that try to bite the crap out of you....
wow, thank you for your report, ivan. we do not get *any* reports of transluscent house geckos, feral iguanas or cuban communist lizards out here on the west coast, although i think we can all agree that those would be excellent band names.
is voting closed? i'm going to have to go with anole for lithesome. fence can win under the 'stumpy' category. (and i'm only a bit biased, since we have them here and i have at least two hanging out at my house.)
It's limited competition, but Anole gets it going away. Fence is too rugged, Anole, not so bad, but in the finals they'd have to go up against skink and skink rules..Blue and black stripes, removable tail? What's not to like?
Polls have closed ... except in West Palm Beach ... some kind of a hang up there.
The Anole wins, my friends, but Fence put up a good fight.
Thank you for playing along and casting your votes!!
The Ralph Naderesque skink votes were duly noted also!
Oh darn it--I somehow missed this post over here in Singapore. I know the polls have closed--but just in case you get a recount-I'm in for Fence. Sarah
Sarah,
Duly noted! And welcome to Pure Florida!
Post a Comment