Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus), Everglades National Park.

Florida, part 19: Lizards (continued)

Anoles are not the only introduced lizards in Florida. Walking around Miami and its suburbs, you can see everything from chameleons to basilisks. Thousands of people keep exotic reptiles as pets, and reptiles are really good at escaping, so new species become established every year. Fortunately, only a few have spread beyond the urban areas so far.

Red-headed agama (Agama agama) is a native of West Africa. Coral Gables.

Green iguana (Iguana iguana), Matheson Hammock State Park.

The largest introduced lizard is the green iguana. It reaches 2 m/6 feet in length. This semi-arboreal species is now beginning to colonize the Everglades. Iguanas mostly feed on tree leaves and fruit.

Mexican spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata), MHSP.

Black spiny-tailed iguanas (C. similis), Hialeah.

Brown basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus), Homestead Airforce Base.

Introduced iguanids of Florida include crested- tailed iguanas, said to be the fastest running lizards on Earth, and brown basilisks, capable of running on water surface.

Brown basilisk, Homestead AFB.

Northern curlytailed lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus), Virginia Key.

Green iguana, MHSP.

Mediterranean house gecko, CG.	Three species of house geckos are much earlier arrivals to Florida.	Mediterranean house gecko, ENP.
	Hatchling of Mediterranean house gecko, CG.
	They've been accidentally imported with shipped goods long before exotic pets became popular.

Indopacific house gecko (H. garnotii), Archbold Biological Station.

Indopacific house gecko, ABS.

Two species are now common in woodlands as well as in houses.

Indopacific house gecko, ABS.

Southern fence lizard (Scleroporus undulatus undulatus), Ocala National Forest.

Florida scrub lizard (S. woodi), ABS.

Native lizards are much less common and diverse in Miami area, but dominate central and northern Florida. There are fifteen species on the Peninsula. Three are endemics: Florida scrub lizard, sand skink and Florida worm lizard (Rhineura floridana) .

Florida scrub lizard, ABS.

Broadhead skink (Eumeces laticeps), ABS.

Six-lined racerunner (Cnemidophorus s. sexlineatus), ABS.

Broadhead skink (above) is locally believed to be highly venomous. This belief was apparently brought to the US by slaves from West Africa, where harmless, bright-colored skinks are also considered venomous.

Track of a sand skink (Neoseps reinoldi), ABS.

Eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis), ONF.

Part 20. Tortoises and turtles

Back to Part 18