You’re absolutely right that that is a distress call. The gape and (awkward) lunge at the beginning is an attempt to make the hand go away, and it stays still when the person starts petting it not because it likes the contact but in the hopes that freezing will make the dangerous things stop messing with it and go away.
This is not a cute reptile enjoying affiliative touch from a person. This is a scared baby that does not have any inclination to want or enjoy human touch hoping the scary thing won’t eat it or that it’s mother will come save it.
According to Know Your Meme, on August 18th, 2005, Erwin Beekveld brought forth this work into the world. HAPPY TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY, THEY’RE TAKING THE HOBBITS TO ISENGARD.
sheds a single tear
every august 18th my notifications break and i go, fuck, tumblr has failed me once again, but it hasn’t. it hasn’t failed me. it’s just the taking the hobbits to isengard-iversary. happy 12 years
I am Silver Tongue, I am an artist. I have many characters and you can check out my art in the art tag. I occasionally practice witchcraft though I don't do anything too complicated. I am girl 2 and don't know what else to put here.