Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

The baby C. Similis I got from Manny are healthy and very active. They took to climbing the electric wires that are strung across the upper regions of their viv. They assume the most interesting posture, nose pointed up so their bodies arc, and feet back along the "branch". They want to look like twigs. So I harvested a bushy section of tree, cut the leaves off and installed it in the viv. They like it very much, clinging to the side away from peering human eyes.

If I had CCTV, I'm sure I could capture some interesting cricket ambushes.

Roger

Similis can be both terrestrial or arboreal.

Here in Miami, when babies are born they sleep on trees and shrubs. As they get older they look for hiding places e.g.: hollow trees, buildings, root systems of trees, under large rocks, etc..
Since there is such an over population here, many cannot find hiding places so they are left to live out their lives on the trees.
Adults usually colonize where ever there is structure. The colony, where favorable, may consist of 1 to as many as 15 females, One large dominant male, and two or three subordinate males. Solitary males are forced to live in satellite hiding places, on trees or in thick palms. Females also have have a " chain of command."

Both babies and adults come out of their hiding places or trees to bask on the ground, where insects are more common. They also graze on weeds, grasses, and flowers.

Babies are more insectivore than vegetarian, and increase their consumption of vegetation as they grow into adults.

I like to call them Omnivorous and opportunistic, because they will eat anything that look appetizing to them.

Hope this gives you a better picture of a similis' nature.

Manny

GREAT info. I've never before found any references regarding their habits. You have a unique view of these lizards, because they are in your back yead, so to speak. As far as I know, there is NO literature of any usefulness about the habits of "C. anything".

Do you ever see juvie pectinatas or juvies of the other species that starts with an "a"? May I assume that you have adult C.pectinata of both sexes?

Roger

C. Pectinata is a fairly new lizard species for me. I have only begun to extensively pursue this lizard for about two years now, but one thing is certain; C. Pectinata and C. Similis are significantly different in both characteristics and behavior.

C. Pectinata is a lover of dense wooded areas and mainly arboreal, while C. Similis prefers open HOT, dry ground. I have observed Pectinatas taking refuge in dark, moist, and dim places e.g.: mangroves, drainage manhole corbels, old crab holes, etc..
Babies (Pectinata) are mostly found on shrubs and tree tops, blending into the jade green foliage but will come down to the ground too, while Similis are mostly found on the ground. Even some adult Pectinatas prefer basking or roosting on tree tops.

C. Pectinata is extremely elusive. I usually collect adults with the help of a pair of binoculars. I have observed adult Pectinatas retreating to their hiding places after noticing me from more then 100 yards away. You would not know they were even there if you were not looking for them in some cases. They are also less active then Similis.

C. Pectinata is less aggressive then C. Similis. Similis will viciously charge at you with its mouth wide open when captured. C. Pectinata will proceed to flee and may make several attempts to bite, but will calm down when brought under control.

C. Pectinata resembles a baby Common green Iguana when a juvenile, while Similis are replicas of adults. Similis have hunter green chevrons (Bands) on their backs and have grayish contrast, while Pectinatas are solid florescent green with light blue spots or faint bands on their backs almost like a watermark. Baby Pectinata have larger eyes then Similis and stalk their prey like cats do. They almost resemble little Mako sharks.

C. Pectinata has wide variation in color. There is such a wide variation in color patterns that there is no exact way of describing a standard color pattern. I guess this is why it was named Pectinata; the root word Pectin which refers to pigment in skin. I have collected adults that are nearly all black or 75-90 percent white. Some other colors are: Pink, gold, cream color, some having small red spots or retaining green. I have heard of the blue phase but have never seen one. There is also the preferred Banana phase. I have collected some that are grayish in color with all the colors mentioned above mixed in. Some experts have made mention these may be Pectinata/Similis crosses.

There is so much to write that it is overwhelming. Maybe I will write a book some day.

I presently have only one baby Pectinata which I am raising up. I intend to breed Pectinata in the future when more space is available since presently own 3.6.1 Cyclura Camenensis x Lewisi and other lizards, snakes, and tortoises which have taken all available space.

Manny

...post THAT amazing pic in a bigger siza???

...it blows me out!

Thanks

Steno

Here you go. The pic is a little blurry.

If you would like to see more pics, go to the picture gallery. I have posted many pics there.

Enjoy.

Here is what a fresh wild caught baby Pec looks like. These guys are a couple of weeks old at the time the pic was taken.

They eat like "sharks"

I'll post another pic of what they look like 4 to 5 months later in captivity.

Enjoy

Here is spike my wild caught Baby C. Pectinata 5 months later in captivity.