Beginner
It doesnt match the photos of Tegu, Scrub or Fence lizards. My neighbor seems to have information that it is a cross breed of a native lizard and an invasive lizard like the nile monitor and thats why I cant find a match.Originally Posted by SoCo KungFu
Im going to submit to some wildlife people. Thanks for all the replies.
Registered User
Greetings KungFubar,
Please give us an update when you find out for sure. I want to know.
mickey
Beginner
ok no problem.
Banned
So everyone here, including me, was wrong on this one. I emailed the local herpetologist who happens to be a drinking buddy and he said its a spiny tailed iguana. Its very young though. I've never seen one myself in person. That young it threw me off because as adults they can look quite different. They lose a lot of their distinctive markings and form that typical spined keel you normally think of with iguanas.
The next question though is, where in FL did you find this? You should probably report this because from best I've read in the past, these iguanas compete with green iguanas for habitat. I've heard they can't establish in places where the green iguanas have. Could be wrong though. But some local wildlife management would likely be grateful for the info if you're not in one of the established locations for these.
Beginner
Pattern seems to match the spiny tail iguana but what about the crest. This lizard has no crest, is that because it is young and then later it will get the crest?
NIII
Are they insanely invasive like their green friends?
I hear that in PR you can't walk 3 feet w/o stepping on one.
Beginner
Ive lived here 10 years and never saw any kind of lizard except the little geckos that dart around the garden. So when I saw this individual, it was highly unusual and interesting to me.
NIII
Well it's gonna get a hell of a lot bigger lol...
Beginner
i dont mind as long as they arent dangerous to people or start any trouble around here. Kinda gives the backyard a wild kind of vibe. Me likey! so um..... how big do they get??
NIII
Dunno, but if the rival their green cuzzies.... well... they can get pretty big.
Green(common) iguana^^^
A quick google search shows me pics that tell me they do get quite large, but I'm no lizard expert and I can't even be sure that the pics I saw are actually what you have living in your yard.
What I can say is that if they are as invasive as the greens, this could be the start of a problem.
Here's the wiki, for what it's worth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenosaura
The species range in size (total length, including the tail) from about 12.5 centimetres (4.9 in) to well over 1 metre (39 in). The distinctive feature of this genus is the presence of enlarged, spiny scales on the tail.
Last edited by Syn7; 06-23-2013 at 11:03 AM.
Beginner
They get pretty big.... I wonder if they taste like chicken?Dunno, but if the rival their green cuzzies.... well... they can get pretty big.
Green(common) iguana^^^
A quick google search shows me pics that tell me they do get quite large, but I'm no lizard expert and I can't even be sure that the pics I saw are actually what you have living in your yard.
What I can say is that if they are as invasive as the greens, this could be the start of a problem.
Here's the wiki, for what it's worth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenosaura
NIII
Everything tastes like chicken... act like you know....!!!
Beginner
I think you are right, that may be it, after reading your wiki link. It says.
Speed
The world record sprint speed for lizards (21.5 miles/h or 34.6 km/h) was attained by the Costa Rican spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura similis).[1][2]
So it is the fastest lizard in the world as I observed and reported here with exclamation in the opening post.
NIII
lol, squirrely lil bastards!!!
Registered User
Greetings,
Thank you for getting back to us, KungFubar, with the info.
It makes me wonder if it was somebody's pet, given it's origin
mickey
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