Image of Colorado Desert Fringe-toed Lizard

Description:

Two detected about sand dune. First specimen disappeared into sand behind bush. When dragging fingers through sand to find the buried individual it was gently touched, yet suddenly bolted from the sand and ran off into the surrounding desert. A second individual spotted on barren dune descended into a red ant nest. This caused the ants to attack the lizard, and the lizard emerged from the ant nest covered with stinging ants. Apparently, the attack by the ants paralyzed the lizard so, that it was simply picked up. The ants where quickly removed, and the lizard recovered and was released.