Existing comment:
Within the First Week
Bacteria at work in the lizard's gut liquefy tissue and produce gases as a by-product. These gases cause the animal to bloat -- and sometimes explode. The smell attracts scavengers, such as flies, that look for holes where they can gain access to the lizard's nutrient-rich insides.
Beetles and other scavengers find the lizard's body and begin to compete for its soft tissues. Flies lay eggs in the carcass. |