TREE EYES
Everyone can see the tree, but you have 20/20 vision if you can spot the animal hidden in the bark in under 6 seconds
It's so good at hiding that experts aren't even sure how many there are in the wild
SOLVING this nature-based brain teaser may mean you have excellent vision.
The hiding animal makes this optical illusion all the more challenging.
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Photographer David Northcott took a picture of the natural wonder with its clever disguise.
He specified that the creature was spotted in the trees of southern Arizona.
It was identified as a long-tailed brush lizard.
The image is zoomed in on the bark of the tree, with some green leaves branching off.
WILD WEST
The lizard, Urosaurus graciosus, is native to the American Southwest, according to the .
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife explains that its defense mechanism is being a master of disguise by blending in seamlessly with brown or gray environments.
"These lizards spend days and nights in bushes and clumps of grass," the experts say.
"They are able to match the color of the background, and depend upon crypsis rather than physical cover for protection."
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Crypsis refers to camouflaging in the environment as opposed to shielding itself undercover.
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
Since these lizards are so good at hiding, there is not a lot of data on how many exist in the wild.
You have 20-20 vision if you can spot the tiny lizard crawling over the sticks in just 17 seconds--
"These lizards spend most of their time in bushes or clumps of grass, seldom coming to the ground," the California agency says.
"They prefer desert flats with some sand in the substrate and a variety of shrub types."
The defense mechanism is common among smaller animals to protect themselves from being preyed upon.
The grayish hue of the long-tailed brush lizard makes it a perfect candidate to hide in plain sight among tree bark.
Due to its secretive nature, not much is known about how it lays eggs, but it's thought to make nests in nearby soil.
DON'T MOVE A MUSCLE
To make spotting them even more difficult, they are not particularly active until hotter months roll around.
The lizards tend to stay as still as possible, laying in wait for smaller prey to approach them.
Their diet consists of small insects and spiders, with the occasional plant-based side dish.
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The long-tailed brush lizard watches out for larger snakes, which could target them for a meal.
If you're still having trouble finding the creature, look closer at the bark of the tree branch, checking for its face and characteristically long tail.
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