Say Hello to 'Bubba.' This magnificent, adult, male Mohave ground squirrel (MGS; Xerospermophilus mohavensis) was captured and released near Coso Junction, California, on June 6, 2019. It was a bit late in the year to capture an adult MGS, especially one so obviously well fed, above ground. That is because this species not only hibernates through the winter months, but it estivates through the hottest months of the summer; they hibernate or estivate for ~7 months of the year. Sadly, because of the pandemic, I could not return to my field site in 2020 and it does not look very promising either for 2021.

Found this lil one which I have never seen a color morph like this for a Mud snake. I determined it to be one based off the visual/physical features such as the “tail spine”, pattern, head/eye shape, as well as a divided anal plate.

Let's meet the most fascinating agamid in Sri Lanka!🇱🇰

*Sinhala- ගැට හොඹු කටුස්සා/කරමල් බෝදිලියා
*English- Hump-nosed lizard/Hump snout lizard/Lyre head lizard
*Scientific name- Lyriocephalus scutatus(Linnaeus, 1758)

This is the largest agamid lizard that endemic to Sri Lanka.This species widely distributed in wet and intermediate zones. Lives in canopy primary and secondary forests in Sri Lanka.When it feels something dangerous happening around,suddenly opens its bright red colour mouth and also males expand their dewlaps. They feed on earthworms,insects and ect. Sinharaja rainforest,Kanneliya rainforest are well known localties for this species and usually can be found around the water resources. A very CALMFUL,COLOURFUL and GORGEOUS agamid that can be found easily in Sri Lanka.But, the behaviors after feeling threatened are very SCARY!You can see well the sharp teeth and the red colour inside its mouth in this picture!Luckily,we observed this amazing creature for the very first time!

Check-
A Naturalist's guide to the Reptiles of Sri Lanka 2nd edition by Anslem de Silva & Kanishka Ukuwela(page35)

A study of behavior, habitat, distribution and ecology on Lyriocephalus scutatus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Sri Lanka
( https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318816051_A_study_of_behavior_habitat_distribution_and_ecology_on_Lyriocephalus_scutatus_Linnaeus_1758_in_Sri_Lanka )

Behavioral ecology and microhabitat use by Lyriocephalus scutatus (Linnaeus, 1758): A monotypic genus in Sri Lanka (Reptilia: Agamidae: Draconinae) with notes on the taxonomy
( https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236231204_Behavioral_ecology_and_microhabitat_use_by_Lyriocephalus_scutatus_Linnaeus_1758_A_monotypic_genus_in_Sri_Lanka_Reptilia_Agamidae_Draconinae_with_notes_on_the_taxonomy )

📷 ©Pasindu Dilshan|2021