[UD17]

Fan Throated Lizard: Meat or Mate

Month: June
Place: Goradeshwar Hill, Dehu, Pune.
Camera kit: Canon70D, Canon 100mm f2.8 macro

A short drive of 6kms from Chinchwad fetched us to the foothills of Goradeshwar near Dehu. We parked our car at the foothills which is a Govt. land and yes did not pay any parking charges. Lately some unauthorized people started charging the parking fee. Just ask for their parking authorization letter from PCMC. They will move away.

The sunrise is as benevolent as the hard track to the hilltop. It took us good 30 minutes of continuous tracking up hill. Picture taken with wide angle Tokina 11-17 lens featuring the old Mumbai-Pune highway.



We witnessed the Deity Shiva, some Minivets, Castrel and the expanding landscape of Dehu/Ravet. After a sublime & fulfilling morning track we started descending the hill. The Sun was radiating with its brimful vigor. The humidity in the ambient was permeating although a reasonable sign for pre-monsoon.

We suddenly felt some rainbow gleaming into our eyes from nearby rock (very alike to flickering of white LEDs of German speed guzzler in highways). Surprised!




Who is there? We perceive the creature as Fan throated lizard. As name suggest has a rainbow colored fan like throat used to show who is alpha? More vivid the color more the chances to mate. Fan throated lizard flashes the fan which constitutes blue, red, green, black & yellow scales in majority. Very beautiful yet shy:





This guy was dynamic & wants to range over all the females in the mating season. He was curious to ascend the highest summit to flaunt his beauty & attract maximum numbers of female.



Desire was infused in the ambience, so is the rivalry. Another guy in nearby territory was equally audacious & truculent to triumph. There was more stupefaction lingering for us. Guy 2:



Soon boiling blood pushed these vivid males facing each other, intimidating, confronting & eager to outstare. Time has come to a standstill, we were equally startled. My hands were shaking missing many shots. Both position themselves sideways to each other, moving close in the circular path. The size and color of the fan is more trumpet now, both were postulated, glorified & attitudinized to distress the opponent. An opponent for females and a foe for territories. We don’t anticipate for a brawl but to our dismay both stormed for a battle all of a sudden. They bounced in the air, jolting, tangling & flinching each other with wide open jaws & most vibrant flaps. The juncture lasts for few seconds.





but we guess, the decision was made.

Guy2:


Guy1:


Who won? We have no idea, but second guy (which we saw 2nd) flee the scene with great alacrity & we guess him to be the defeated one. A glorious pose will look like this i guess?





It was an experience of lifetime. We thanked nature for the blissful glimpse of concealed plots, which otherwise are far from human imagination.

[Mumbaiker]

Wow. This is a super documentation as well of having two lizards showing off.

I wasnt aware they are found so close to Mumbai. I always thought it was somewhere on the Solapur side that these lizards are found.

Lovely images. Thanks for sharing.

[ajayc123]

Those are really nice pics, very sharp, vibrant colours and good choice of depth of field.

Some of your pics are cool close ups. How did you convince these guys to pose for you? Usually there creatures would disappear at the first sight of humans, but this looks like a well structured modelling assignment.

Did you perceive any risk of them jumping on/ attacking you?

[GForceEnjoyer]

Incredible photography right there, wow! The colour replication is fantastic, so is the quality. Thanks for the visual treat.

This encouraged me to fall down a rabbit hole Googling the fan throated lizard. Thanks for sharing this!

[thirugata]

Great spotting. awesome photography.

[UD17]

Originally Posted by ajayc123

Those are really nice pics, very sharp, vibrant colours and good choice of depth of field.
Did you perceive any risk of them jumping on/ attacking you?

Thanks for the appreciation.

Macro provide a very good depth of field without any effort. 100mm also give some freedom to shoot from distance, these pictures are cropped significantly from RAW files.

Fan throated Lizards are harmless, they do not attack and usually do not move away with your gentle movement. No rush is the key.

[TechnoBloop]

That's some Nat Geo level photography buddy! Good job.

[RedTerrano]

What a fantastic riot of color by mother nature which we wouldn't have enjoyed but for the photography skills!
Take a bow @UD17

[dgoyle]

Wow! You certainly had your heart, mind, and eyes open. Beautiful photographs.

[UD17]

Originally Posted by Mumbaiker

I always thought it was somewhere on the Solapur side that these lizards are found.

Thanks for your appreciation. Fan throated Lizard are found everywhere around pune. I have witnessed their presence in many forts around pune. To name a few Lohgad, Sinhgad, Rajmachi and rocky lands around forts. I am sure they will be present nearby Mumbai also.

Originally Posted by GForceEnjoyer

Incredible photography right there, wow! The colour replication is fantastic, so is the quality. Thanks for the visual treat.

Thanks for your appreciation. People come from far to witness the color riot. There are few guides as well who helps people in sighting these lizards

Originally Posted by thirugata

Great spotting. awesome photography.

Thanks for your appreciation. Means a lot.

Originally Posted by TechnoBloop

That's some Nat Geo level photography buddy! Good job.

Thanks for your gigantic appreciation.

Originally Posted by RedTerrano

What a fantastic riot of color by mother nature which we wouldn't have enjoyed but for the photography skills!
Take a bow @UD17

Thanks for your appreciation for the photographic skills. But most of the work were done by powerful lens.

Originally Posted by dgoyle

Wow! You certainly had your heart, mind, and eyes open. Beautiful photographs.

Thanks for your appreciation. I am not sure about mind but other two were open surely at that moment.

[dr.oto_anu]

These are wonderful clicks. And so crisply demonstrated.

[UD17]

Originally Posted by dr.oto_anu

These are wonderful clicks. And so crisply demonstrated.

Sir, Thanks for your appreciation and for watching the post with such attentiveness.