Hiding in Plain Sight

The following article was published in the Fairfield Glade Sun newspaper October 14, 2009.

Enjoying Nature

Don Hazel

Hiding in plain sight

The photo could be in black and white but it doesn’t matter. It looks just about exactly the same either in black and white or in color. In any case, the little guy hiding in the photo is hard to spot.

If you are looking at the photo, you are looking at an eastern fence lizard. Look closely.

These cute little lizards are abundant in Eastern Tennessee. And unlike much of the wildlife around here, these lizards are diurnal, just like us. Diurnal means active during the day and sleeping at night. Many other animals are nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dusk and dawn). Eastern fence lizards are also our most arboreal (tree dwelling) lizards.

Because they are cold-blooded like other reptiles, lizards like to bask in the sun to warm up their bodies, since heat is not generated internally. However, one advantage of being cold-blooded is that they don’t have to eat as frequently as warm-blooded animals. Warm blooded animals like mammals and birds need a constant supply of food to warm their bodies. Cold-blooded animals can often go weeks without eating since their food is not needed to generate warmth, only to give them energy and growth. As you know, we humans need dessert at every meal or we could die.

I often see eastern fence lizards in the rocky areas around my house, but they are usually not far from a tree for escape. If you circle the tree they will stay on the opposite side just like a squirrel will; and they blend in beautifully for their own protection.

Beside camouflage these little lizards have another unique form of protection. If caught by the tail, the tail can break off and wiggle wildly. While the predator looks at the crazy tail the lizard can get away to grow a new tail and live another day.

We have several kinds of lizards around here. The northern green anole is the little green or brown lizard that used to be sold in pet stores as chameleons. The five-lined skink is the one you have probably seen with the blue tail.

All of the lizards in Tennessee are harmless and beneficial and should be protected. They eat spiders and insects. Just be glad that they are here and their big cousin the ten foot long Komodo dragon of Indonesia isn’t. If that were the case we would be the ones trying to hide and not in plain sight.

Comments, questions or suggestions for future nature articles are welcome at don.hazel@gmail.com