While standing outside yesterday basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun, something I have been unable to do for nearly ten days because of The Plague, I chanced upon a green anole (Anolis carolinensis) hiding in the space between the patio fence and the wall.  You might remember I’ve seen them there before, but this time was different.  Unlike the last episode when I discovered them there, yesterday’s encounter revealed a new facet of where they hide.  This one was not out in the open space like the last one; instead, it was almost completely concealed between the fence post and wall.  There is sufficient crawl space there for small creatures, and I now suspect it serves as shelter for many of the anoles.  It probably also serves as housing for the Mediterranean geckos (a.k.a. house gecko; Hemidactylus turcicus) I see around the patio (not to mention in the house).

I at first didn’t realize it was an anole when I saw it.  Look at this fist picture and you’ll understand why.

As you can see, it’s light underbelly is facing outward, and that made it appear on first glance like nothing more than some kind of debris—a twig or dead leaf, perhaps, or something caught in a spider web.  Only upon closer inspection did I realize what it was.  Thankfully, the little guy or girl sat quite still and allowed me to snap several photographs.

Even as I moved about and pushed the camera ever closer to the little monster, it never moved.  I eventually leaned quite close to look at it and realized it was indeed following my movements with its one visible eye, yet at no point did it see me as enough of a threat to warrant escape.  I suspect it really did feel as though I could not see it—or it didn’t care if I did see it.

Once I’d snapped enough pictures to feel I had some I could work with, I left the camouflaged beast to its business.