Here are some clarifications…the scientific name for the long-nosed leopard is Gambelia wislizenii honoring the naturalist of the 1800s William Gambel and Friedrich Wislizenus, an army engineer and plant collector also of the 1800s. I’m surprised that there is no alluding to the leopard like spots on the body, or the long nose, or the very long round tail. It’s not like those two fellows don’t have a bunch of other flora and fauna named for them. Oh well.
And, the term “post nuptial blush” refers to the orangish spots found on the female lizard in the spring when she is gravid…carrying eggs (pregnant!). Okay, but “post nuptial blush” sounds more like a cosmetic than anything having to do with lizards. So here is another “oh well.”
The photos are mine of a long-nosed leopard lizard. And that’s our crossing when the Ol’ Guajolote came down as described in this episode. I forgot to mention that we couldn’t get across that “nourishing water” for 3 days, but hey, we were on the home side of the creek. Yay!
