Enlightened Animals

Our fine furry, feathery, & scaly friends, transformed into lyrical lighthearted digital paintings, and photographs of domestic and wild animals, often caught in an unexpected circumstance or predicament, some amusing or whimsical, others sad or poignant.

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Now You See Me

Perfectly camouflaged in the dry grass, a rare and elusive horned lizard sits alert and motionless under a creosote bush in the desert southwest of Socorro, New Mexico.

Also known as horny toads and horned toads, these fascinating and beautiful lizards used to be plentiful throughout the desert southwest, but sadly, and despite protective legislation, horned lizard populations are in rapid decline, their numbers dwindling for a variety of reasons, including loss of habitat, human eradication of ant populations, proliferation of fire ant populations, overuse of pesticides and herbicides, and removal from their natural environment in likely unsuccessful attempts to make pets.

Photography + Digital Painting Effects

enlightened animal now you see me horned lizard horny toad horned toad reptile phrynosoma phrynosomatidae camouflage perfectly adapted dry grass desert southwest new mexico rare animal desert animal desert dweller loss of habitat ant eater natural environment rough skin pattern in nature beady eyes horns spikes hot dry reptilian coldblooded sitting in the sun waiting for prey arid landscape solitary elusive dwindling number threatened species becky titus rebecca titus taylor prisma light studio