western fence lizard (aka blue-belly) adult male playing dead after a catch and release.

motionless outdoors acting adult alert animal belly blue bluebelly bright california cautious coast ranges fence lizard common danger defense mechanism tactic details faking fauna fear freeze instinct lifeless male nature occidentalis playing dead plays pretending reptile scales sceloporus selfpreservation spiny startled stay alive still survival threatened turquoise underbelly upside ventral western wild wildlife