- Mark, you rolling?
- [Mark] Yes I am.
- That is the biggest spiny lizard we have seen
this entire trip.
One of the biggest I've seen in my life, it is huge.
This is gonna be a tough catch.
(suspenseful music)
(yells in pain)
(tribal jungle music)
What's going on coyote pack?
We are back in the Sonoran desert,
and as you can see it is night time,
which means it's the perfect time
to search for desert creatures,
and I do have my trusty flashlight with me
and my snake tongs, and of course,
Mark right there behind the main camera.
- What's goin' on guys?
- Got Mario on the B camera.
- [Mark] There he is!
- If you guys are ready, we know what happens next.
We head off into the darkness and see what we can find.
- [Mark] Let's go!
(suspenseful music)
Alright Coyote so what are we looking for?
Where are we starting tonight?
- Well what's interesting and that people don't realize ...
Whoa, I just heard something. Hold on a second.
- [Mark] What was that?
- Oh, what is that?
- [Mark] What is it?
- I thought it was a rattlesnake,
it just went tsst tsst tsst.
I think it was a bug though.
What I like about this area is you have a lot of plant life
but there's also all this area to walk in between things.
You'll notice there aren't many cacti around.
- [Mario] Which is nice.
- It's really nice.
So we're not walking into things, and look at this,
it looks like we're on a trail but we're not.
The entire desert in this area, no matter what direction
you place your lights, you can go this way,
you can go this way, you can go that way,
it's actually almost disorienting because
it's very easy to get lost.
Now we do have a GPS tracking system with us.
We've made a pin way back at our vehicle
which we started off at at daytime.
Hopefully we'll make it back there,
but I think we go this direction and see what we can find.
We're just gonna move slowly, continue scanning the branches
and often times what you'll find is in just like a nook
like this, a lizard laying and sleeping on the branch.
Now we've used the same method to catch things like iguanas
and knight anoles, if you guys remember
the knight anole episode, we were able to spot the lizard
up in the tree and then safely catch it.
Hoping to use that same tactic tonight for some of
the lizard species out here in the Sonoran desert.
Alright let's cover some ground and keep searching.
(suspenseful music)
Oh! Right here, look look!
- [Mark] What you got?
- [Coyote] Baby western diamondback!
Wow! I'm gonna cut my light, can you see it okay?
- [Mark] Yeah sure.
- [Coyote] Look at that, that's a tiny one.
Wow that's one of - [Mark] A little one.
- [Coyote] the smallest rattlesnakes I've ever seen.
- [Mark] Beautiful though.
- [Coyote] Look at you!
Now don't let its small size fool you.
This rattlesnake can be just as dangerous as a large one.
Where is that little rattle going?
(intense music)
Whoa, okay buddy. There you go, strike position.
Trying to get it away from these bushes so you guys
can see it a little bit better.
Look at how quick that is!
Alright, how's that? Can you guys see it right there?
- [Mark] Oh yeah.
- [Coyote] Wow, you're one of the smallest
little rattlesnakes I've ever seen!
Look at that, just two buttons on that rattle.
- [Mark] Look at the banding on the tail too.
- [Coyote] Oh it's gorgeous!
It looks like it maybe just shed.
Look how vibrant that coloration is on the tail
and on the patterning of its back.
Look at that. Perfect defense pose right there.
Now the venomous bite that this snake can pack
even at this size would send you to the hospital.
So it's not a snake I'm going to try to handle,
I'm just going to admire it.
From a safe distance, if you can call this safe.
Now these snakes don't necessarily want to strike.
Right? Notice that.
And its tongue's flicking out feeling the edge
of my snake tongs.
They want to keep that venom as a reserve
and snakes only bite as a last resort.
So right now this little rattlesnake is thinking
as long as I stay camouflaged and I don't move
perhaps these potential large predators
will just keep moving in that direction
and I'll be able to slither off and continue hunting
for the night.
Alright guys, well this was a pretty cool find.
Well lets head this direction and see if we can find
some of those sleeping lizards.
Oh look at this, a fallen cactus.
- [Mark] Whoa. That is a huge ...
- That's a fallen giant right there.
- [Mark] Whoa. It's still alive a little bit looks like.
- I'll bet this came down in a recent monsoon.
I've never even seen ...
Oh yeah look at this, this is definitely recently fell.
- [Mark] Wow.
- Look at the inside here. Look at that, it's like wood.
- [Mark] Too bad, that's an old cactus.
- Yeah, that's an old legend that fell right there.
Wow, definitely probably came down
in some heavy monsoon winds.
I'm just gonna ...
Yeah we can get up and over this.
- [Mark] Okay.
- Wanna hand me your camera?
- [Mark] Sure.
(dramatic music)
- [Coyote] I got it. Yep.
- Wooo, standing on top of an ancient cacti.
That's a new one.
- [Coyote] Watch the spikes.
- Yeah I see it. I'm gonna jump.
(grunting)
- [Coyote] Snake snake snake.
Okay, I got it, I got it. - [Mark] Nice grab.
- Took me a second to properly identify it
and that's gonna be the key piece to talking about
this species specifically.
As we walked up we set the lights and you'll notice
the red and the black and the slight yellowish coloration,
this could've been a coral snake, but it is not.
This is a long-nosed snake.
Wow, look how beautiful it is!
Now that bright coloration is aposematic,
which means it's a warning to any potential predator
that I may be venomous.
However, in this instance it's a snake
that is completely safe to handle.
Now these snakes are strictly nocturnal,
it's the only time you'll come across them
and during the day they're actually hiding underground
which means they are fossorial.
But at night they are out searching for any sort
of little creature that they can get their mouths on.
Could be a gecko, could be a little roach running around
in the desert this is an opportunistic predator.
Now go ahead and zoom it on the nose there.
You notice how pointed it is?
The scales on the tip of the snake's nose
are specialized to help it dig underground.
They are excellent at burrowing in soft sandy soil.
Now that red and black actually does help it blend
really well into this desert environment.
Here Mark, check this out.
I'm gonna set it down in the sand.
- [Mark] Sure does.
- Look at those variations in all the dark rocks
and even the reddish colorations in the rocks
help the snake stay perfectly hidden.
Get back here. Gotcha.
Very cool.
Let's look at the underside of the snake real quick.
Look at that, very smooth.
There's actually an iridescence to its skin.
Can you see that in the lights there?
- [Mark] Oh yeah, that's awesome.
It's like a satin white.
- Incredibly smooth too.
Almost looks like it's slimy, but as we know,
snakes have scales, they are not slimy at all.
It is very very smooth.
As you can see, very very friendly.
Well that was pretty cool.
We've come across a rattlesnake tonight,
which as we know is venomous, and a long-nose snake,
which is nonvenomous and completely safe to handle
as long as you properly identify it as being
a long-nose snake and not a coral snake.
Alright, I'm gonna set it back down into the sand,
it's going to take off into the desert.
Later buddy.
(suspenseful music)
- [Mark] So how do you spot these lizards Coyote?
- It's a matter of looking for some kind sort of
obscure shape out on one of the limbs of these
creosote bushes or some of these other trees.
They're actually really hard to spot.
Wow. Mark are you rolling?
- [Mark] Yes I am.
- That is the biggest spiny lizard we have seen
this entire trip.
One of the biggest I've seen in my life. It is huge.
At its maximum size, that is a male,
you can see the dark blueish coloration on its back.
This is gonna be a tough catch.
- [Mark] It's a fortress around it.
- Wow, see you've got all these prickly pears
right in front.
I don't know how I'm gonna catch this lizard.
- [Mark] There's a giant cholla tree right next to it too.
(suspenseful music)
Coyote where you at?
- [Coyote] Right here.
- [Mark] Cholla right here.
He's awake.
- [Coyote] He's awake?
- [Mark] Yep.
(music intensifies)
- Got it! (groaning)
Got it. - [Mark] Nice grab!
(all cheering)
That's the one!
- Wow, nothing like getting on your back
in a bunch of (groans in pain) spikes and thorns.
(groans) I got spikes all in my shoulder. But ...
- [Mark] It was worth it.
- There it is. That is a gorgeous male desert spiny lizard.
(whistles) Wow, that is a beaster right there.
A perfect field guide specimen.
Oh! Trying to bite me.
Ouch! And spiked me.
And let's talk about why they call this
the desert spiny lizard.
Look at that beast. Wow!
This is one of the larger specimens that I have ever seen,
and look at all the spikes on the back of that reptile.
Now the way we know this is a male, aside from its size,
is look ... oh oh oh.
We just wanna show everybody your belly.
Ow! So spiky!
Look at the belly of that lizard.
Wow, and there's a little bit of yellowing
speckled in there.
Oh you are so handsome, so handsome.
And incredibly strong.
Now this is one of the most robust lizard species
out here in the Sonoran desert, and one of the fastest
lizard species you can come across.
They are almost impossible to catch during
the daylight hours, it's even been tough to catch them
at night, but as you can see we finally managed
to get one in front of the cameras.
Whew! We have been out here for, gosh,
it's going on three hours at this point trying
to catch this lizard, but we have finally got one.
Now let's talk about why they call this
the desert spiny lizard.
This is probably easier to feel than it is to see,
but there are sharp scales running all along the length
of this reptile's body, and if I rub my finger backwards
like this (wincing).
Mark, put your finger out there, tell everybody
what that feels like.
Just kind of run your finger gently backwards.
- [Mark] Ah, yeah it's like a cheese grater.
- Right?
- [Mark] Oh yeah, that would shred you.
- Now imagine being something trying to eat this lizard,
let's say a snake.
Tries to swallow this, it's gonna get stuck in its throat.
So the only real predator for this creature out here
is a bird, something like a roadrunner or a hawk.
Snakes usually tend to avoid the desert spiny lizard.
Oh and this is absolutely one of my favorites,
and as a kid I would always try to catch these
but they were incredibly difficult to ever get close to.
Now you'll notice the sort of dark patch
on the lizard's back as he's shedding some
of his scales there.
That dark patch actually becomes much more vibrant
during the day, and what they will do is wake up
early in the morning to bask in the warm glowing sun.
As they warm up they get ready to head out and hunt.
This is a diurnal species, which means it's active
during the day.
And as that sunlight warms them up they actually
get brighter in coloration.
But you can see even here at night under these lights
the belly is absolutely beautiful.
You notice that bright blue coloration,
you see the chin here, it's not as bright right now,
but during breeding season these lizards
are absolutely gorgeous, and the males,
what they will do is they'll go up on a rock,
puff up their chest, and say to all the ladies
with their bright coloration, aren't I handsome?
Don't you wanna date me?
And I'll tell you what buddy, you're about as handsome
as it gets for a desert spiny lizard.
Wow, these guys are just so cool.
Now they are voracious predators, and they have
a pretty powerful bite, let's see.
Show us how tough your bite is.
(yells in pain)
Wow, that's powerful right there!
And that's about as powerful as the knight anole
and kind of getting close to the collared lizard.
Can I have my finger back? Please?
Oh yeah, those little teeth ...
Ow ow ow!
I'm gonna turn my finger like that Mario,
so you can get a tight shot.
- [Mario] Is it gonna break skin you think?
- Aaah, probably not but the pressure is noticeable
and I'll tell you what, for any little insect
or arachnid running around out here in the night time desert
those jaws would be the end of you.
Alright, can I have my finger back? Please?
(gasping in pain)
- [Mark] Ooh, I saw the saliva coming off of that.
- Oi! That was a powerful little bite right there.
- [Mark] You ever worry about getting bit
by all these reptiles?
- No, not so much.
I knew that this one wasn't going to break skin
but gave me a solid little pinch.
Well it took us quite a bit of time,
but we finally managed to catch one handsome
desert spiny lizard.
I'm Coyote Peterson, be brave, stay wild.
We'll see you on the next adventure.
Alright, let's place this lizard down here
on the ground and see just how fast they really are.
(jungle music)
- [Mark] (laughing) He was super fast.
- He was that fast?
- [Mark] Yeah (laughing).
- He took off in a bullet, did you see him?
(laughs) Well there he goes, you see how fast they are.
Alright, well, that's a wrap!
If you thought catching a desert spiny lizard was exciting,
make sure to go back and watch the episode where I caught
another one of the southwest speedy reptiles
the collared lizard.
And don't forget, subscribe, so you can join me
and the crew on this season of Breaking Trail.
(various animal sounds)