• Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.

Who knows lizards?

Coastal

Coastal

New member
I saw a lizard around the house that I’ve never seen before. I’ve been searching th internet for native and non native lizards to Florida and can’t find it. I tried to take a picture but I couldn’t get a good one. It is larger than the brown anole, black with white spots and it has a fin going down it’s back.

It’s probably something that is very common but I’ve been coming to FL for over ten years and have never seen one like it.
 
According to the half a dozen sites ive been to, they show really dark brown anoles that are spotted and with a fin.

anole,%20b%20-%20P030526-1391w.jpg
 
That's got to be it. All the searches I've done with google and yahoo on the brown anole did not come up with any picture like that. thanks, what web site is that from?
 
Yeah, the Cuban brown anole has just about displaced the native Carolina green anole through most of Florida. The Cuban brown isn't as cold tolerant, so they cannot survive the winters where frost is a common occurance. The greens are still commonplace around here near Crawfordville, fortunately.

There are a lot of non native species of reptiles in south Florida. Even Burmese pythons have become established. And of course green iguanas and monitor lizards are found as well.....
 
We have Iguanas all around our property....they must be thriving as there are quite a few. The burmese pythons are reproducing like crazy in the evergaldes:eek:
 
Well, I guess my problem was assuming that when you see one brown anole, you’ve seen them all. I saw a picture or tow of the brown and it didn’t look anything like the one I saw, seems that they come in a variety of shapes.

As far as green anoles, I have not seen any down here, I guess this area has pretty much been taken over. I still see the greens in Orlando but still mostly brown.

So, how do you figure those Cubans got here? :shrug01::hehehe:
 
Florida has been an importation point from the tropics forever. Any number of animals can hitch a ride on a shipment of bananas or other produce. Plants being imported for the nursery trade have brought in all kinds of stowaways. Then you have the pet trade where Johnnie will buy a baby Burmese python that the parents tolerate until it gets 8 foot long, and they find that no one will take it off of their hands. So out the door it goes some night..... Not to mention just out and out escapes, which is quite common with snakes, as they are natural Houdinis.

Also, hurricanes have demolished homes and businesses containing LOTS of different types of wildlife that went scampering off into the woods.

South Florida can support a lot of different tropical species because the weather is similar.
 
I had a cuban knight anole for a long time
MVC-075F.JPG


he was out in the yard trying to hunt, but he had a broken jaw, so I catched him and kept him fed, and he wouldent go away after that, He would turn jet black when he was mad
 
Here is one of my visitors.

Unfortunately he likes to leave a present by the pool. We've found all types of reptiles around the yard. King snakes, rat snakes, ring necked snakes, a ball python and all the lizards shown and listed above. I love having the critters around as long as it isn't a gator,croc,water moccasin or pygmy rattler.

HPIM0799.jpg


HPIM0800.jpg
 
Yeah, iguanas can get pretty darn big! Just don't try to grab one. Not only will they bite and scratch the hell out of you, but that tail is a VERY effective lash that can slap you silly.....
 
My dad raised two iguanas years ago. Things got to around 5-6ft long. One was always wanting attention, and the other as RichZ pointed out, just wanted to knock you into next week. She was like a rattle snake, before the bite you hear the sound, well before her strike youd see her swing around and prep that tail.
 
Decent thread! Being a Northerner, and just spending small amounts of time here in Dunedin, I know very little about the reptiles here. I've come to the house in the past and found a green frog in the toilet bowl looking for all the world like it was his kingdom, and a brown toad (or frog?) in the garage. I just picked them both up and took them outdoors where they belong, but all of a sudden it dawned on me.....I don't know if any of the frogs/toads in this area are harmful to humans. Are any of them equipped with toxins or other defensive mechanisms that would make picking them up "hazardous to my health?" Just wondering..............
Andy Anderson
 
Look up "poison dart frog", and see what cool colors they can be. then learn not to touch them in any way shape or form. nasty lil buggas. i dont think they are commonly found around houses, but you can buyem in pet stores. my cousin has one for some ungodly reason. :banghead:

i was gonna post a picture from a yahoo image search of what i quoted, and i didnt think they came in so many color variations.
 
Poison dart (or poison arrow frogs) are native to Central and South America. Not likely you would see them around these parts, but I guess anything is possible.

One thing that has been noted about this animals is that the toxins in their skins apparently come from whatever they eat in their native range. After they have been removed for a period of time, they completely lose their toxicity.

But any amphibian can exude toxins from glands on the skin. The big marine toads that have become established in south Florida can actually kill a dog that would chew on it. Even small native toads will have a toxin, which may do nothing more than leave a bad taste in your mouth if you were to try chewing on one. Used to be a rumor that pot heads would suck on toads in order to get a buzz on. I would think they were pretty desperate for entertainment to do something like that.......... :hehehe:
 
Rich Z said:
Used to be a rumor that pot heads would suck on toads in order to get a buzz on. I would think they were pretty desperate for entertainment to do something like that.......... :hehehe:
Click to expand...

Family Guy comes to mind about this haha.
 
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