Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A co-worker of mine made a comment that her son didn't want his lizard anymore because he wasn't taking care of it. I was buying a new 40gal for my red-eared slider so I figured I'd hve an open 29gal so why not? I went to her house to take a look at it and I almost cried. What I found was a skinny little lizard in a a tiny tank (smaller than 10gal, 5??) with no heat and no food. She said her son hadn't fed it in 2 weeks... it looked like a lot more. It's spine and ribcage is showing along with it's little hipbones at the base of it's tail. With it being so skinny I am having a hard time identifying it. This is what it looks like:

-5 inches (maybe) with tail (loooooong tail!)
-Long back toes that remind me of an iguana (some of it's toes are acually missing!)
-It is mostly brown with 2 dark brown lines from the back of it's ears (that circular spot that iguanas have??) down to the base of the tail
-It's head and front legs (not back) are actually slightly plated
-It's head and front torso are a blue/green that changes in the light (pretty!)

All of the Podarcis sicula, or Italian Wall Lizards I have seen look just like it but none have the same coloration. She has NO spots whatsoever. I am planning on getting a picture of her sometime this week but I thought based on the discription maybe someone might be able to help me. I am right now feeding it crickets and mealworms and misting it often. It really likes water and I think it was dehydated since it's skin is baggy and wrinkled. Help!

They have lengthwise stripes on a brownish body, and the male's head and shoulders are blue-green.

That miserable kid should be deprived of food and water for a couple of days, let him see how it feels. I am glad that the poor lizard is coming to benevolent hands.

After reading your post I looked up more pictures of the Cnemidophorus sexlineatus and the body style seems really similar (back legs, larger scales on front legs, ect), but it doesn't have as many stripes. It has 2 stripes overall, each from the back of it's head to the base of the tail. The head coloration is not as high either. It is almost iridecent, changing from a light brown to a blue/green in the light. Any other suggestions??

Cnemidophorus deppei.

I found this picture, also of a Rainbow and it does look really similar. As I said, it is so hard to tell because the little thing is so starved and skinny so it's body is not as it would normally be. The only thing that is different on these Rainbows are the coloration. Do you happen to know if they have a wide range of color?? After looking at her closely today (I was avoiding holding her for a few days so she could get more comfertable) I noticed that she does have a few light white spots between her stripe on her side and the scales on her belly. I think her color is becoming more apparant everyday since she is now eating and getting proper lighting. I did take some pictures tonight and will post them tomorrow evening when I find my disk for my digi cam.

Thanks for your help and please take a look at the pics tomorrow night.... I really want to know for sure what this little critter is so I can take the best care of it as I possibly can!

I think I found one who's markings (at least the stripe are more similar to her) but it doesn't seem to have the blue head. It is a amieva festiva and this is the only picture I can find with similar markings. Does anyone know anything about it??

This is what she looks like... you can see how skinny she really is. Can anyone confirm that this is an Ameiva and if so what kind???

She looks like a green amieva, of course I don't claim to be an expert but that is what my female amevia looks like, I have 1 female and 1 male, the male shows awsome colors, the female tends to be more of a brown..Hope someone else can help you..it's a good thing you rescued her..