Saw my neighbor looking at something in the middle of the street when I was walking home. Looked like a piece of dark rope...and I knew instantly it was a snake or lizard!
Walked over and picked this beauty up.
Northern Alligator Lizard!
My neighbor was working in their yard and accidently flung little buddy, then walked over to make sure that little buddy didn't get hurt.
It's like holding a baby dragon! Sooo cuuuute! Alligator lizards can be agressive, but only if your being agressive first.
I let little buddy go in my backyard. Lots bugs and wild palces to hide, as well as places to sun themselves.
I had such a hard time thinking of things for this. Made me realize how boring I am besides my fucked up mental health lol
Also not trying to be insensitive or joke about the lobotomy thing. I have autism, ADHD, OCD, GAD, CPTSD and chronic depression (which I'm sure all feed off of each other and make it hard to differentiate symptoms). So, quite literally I would have, at the very least, been institutionalized 50 years ago.
*Hypnagogic hallucinations are basically sleep paralysis hallucinations without the paralysis.
Here's the alligator lizards mating if anyone is curious:
I had a scientist that studies alligator lizard mating habits (who had never seen the mating irl) message me on iNaturalist to ask if he could use my photos in some of his work. Coolest animal experience ever.
Okay, so I kinda cheated on today's "domestic/tame lizard" Zooly prompt, since people don't commonly keep northern alligator lizards (Elgaria coerulea) as pets. But I saw one on a recent hike and was inspired to recreate its scaly beauty.
Ink pen and Copic markers.