"Samalander Lizard, Chapter 1" by Nathan W. Woods

Subject: The Samalander lizard
Species: Lizardic Amalsanderic

This species of small to medium large lizard was originally discovered by one Samuel Alan Lander, from which the lizard gets its name. Originally found in the jungle of Brazil it was at first thought to be related to the salamander, so the fusion of Dr. Lander's name, Sam A. Lander, seemed fitting. It was later discovered that the reptilian was more closely related to the lizard family. It has smooth skin, medium length legs that are used to support it completely off of the ground, binocular vision and a forked tongue. The skin color is what, among other things separate this lizard from any previously discovered. The ones found in Amazonia were all a bright green color with dark green stripes. It, like all of its closely related brethren, has limited chameleon ability. The green subspecies is approximately nine inches long including tail. The second subspecies to be discovered were the Sarah desert ones. These are a larger group of lizards, being twelve inches in over all length. It is bright red with yellow stripes across its back. The third varieties to be found were the somewhat smaller glacial and oceanic sub-species. Both varieties are approximately six inches in total length. The glacial is dark blue with light greenish-blue stripes; the oceanic is a lighter blue with cyan strips. The last and smallest to be found are the ones first found in large cities. These urban lizards are approximately three inches in total length, and are dark yellow with bright orange stripes.

Each subspecies that was discovered living in a small band of three to four individuals that seem to hunt and live together, as no wild breeding habits have been observed it is unknown if this is a family grouping. Eventually a small band each variety was brought into captivity for observation. There several strange things were discovered. First, each different type of lizard seemed to have a different way to hunt. Each seems to have used its environment's most powerful element to its advantage. The red desert lizard uses incredible heat to stun its prey. Sometimes people thought that they observed smoke and fire leaving the lizards mouth. The glacial uses severe cold (approximately 3 K) to freeze and immobilize its prey. The oceanic uses an electric charge to stun its prey. The Amazonia uses a cloud of poisonous gas to kill prey; and the urban uses a spray of acid to blind prey, and stun it.

One night by accident all of the different groups were left in the same room together. When they were discovered in the morning most had freed them selves by using their hunting attack. The Amazonia seemed to have freed them selves by some other method. Upon noting that they were all free to roam around the room it was feared that they had killed each other off, but they were found momentarily resting in a corner, not a single lizard missing. Each group was put back in cages and moved to separate rooms prevent them from doing harm to one another. Related to this but not known at the time were the pregnancies that arouse soon after. A gestation period was discovered to be nine months to the day for all of the various lizards. Birth is of small babies nearly fully formed, and not from shells as was first surmised. Each of the cross bread lizard had four offspring. One was the same species as the father, one of the mother, one was a brown lizard that has not been yet observed in the wild, and appears to have no real natural abilities. The fourth was the most interesting as it appeared to be a mix of the two species. In the case of the desert/oceanic cross the lizard born was a deep purple red color with cyan stripes. Each cross eventually settled into the larger of the two parent's size and color pattern, although it is noted that the chameleon effect is increased and the lizard could change between color at will. The cross breeds were separated from the main groups of lizards when it was discovered that they weren't tied to the mother except for late night observations of the group gathered together in a rough circle. The crossbreeds were all put in one large pen for observation. Within eighteen months of placing them in the combined pen they gave birth again, there was a mix of three and four species varieties, each gaining in both ability but all loosing most of the ability to blend in with their environment. One lizard, it was the glacial/Sarah cross only had one birth. It was a black on orange male, who has been dubbed 'tiger stripes'. It quickly outgrew the rest of its generation and was slightly larger than the Sarah variety and almost always kept the yellow on red color tone.

At 'tiger stripes' full growth it was discovered that these lizards could talk. It responded in unbroken English to the greeting 'how do you do' spoken by one of the female techs that work on the monitoring equipment. By simply asking this creature we discovered that the Samalander lizard is a highly intelligent beast, and a large portion of the larger varieties could speak English better than many of the scientists that were working with them can. At the time of this letter we are working on constructing a lexicon with the great help of this lizard who has come to call himself Samalander.

Sincerely,
Keven Andrews, PHD.