Until 2002, these lizards were considered a subspecies of the Eastern Fence Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus. Now, thanks to Adam Leaché and Tod Reeder, they have a whole species to call their own.

The first lizard pictured above was just basking in the waning late afternoon sun. The second one was putting on quite a show, puffing itself up and doing push-ups. At first we wondered whether it was trying to impress us, its human observers, but then it suddenly raced down the rock to drive off a fellow prairie lizard.

I'm not paranoid. They really are watching me.