Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently acquired a lizard called a "forest iguana" by the dealer from which it came. The animal is a small, green lizard, similar in appearance and size between a cone-headed lizard (Laemanctus longipes) and a smaller chameleon. It has no head casque, though, no spines at all on the head, neck, or back, and not as thin or gangly as a cone-headed lizard, and not quite as large as an adult cone-headed - the body is only about 4" long. The tail is extremely long, perhaps 8-10"? She is light green, with a whitish, cream-colored belly, and a thin black line running the length of the head on each side and bisecting the eye.

I have little hope for this poor girl, as she is severely emaciated and severely gravid. She's relatively active, though, and drinking at least. I'm trying to ID the exact species, and see if there is any captive care information, egg incubation information (if she's strong enough to lay), or at least find out their native habitat. If you've heard of a lizard called a "forest iguana" and know the species, or know of anyone has kept one alive for more than a few months or ever hatched eggs, please let me know. I'll try to get a picture tomorrow.

Someone on another list said that Liolaemus sylvanae (a.k.a. Vilcunia silvanae) is sometimes called a forest iguana. Does anyone have a picture of this species? I haven't been able to find a picture of one on the net.

Right now I can tell you what I think it's not. I don't think it's Calotes, although it looks slightly like Calotes maria, minus the spines and with the coloring described above. There is a picture of C. maria here, if someone would lke to take a look. http://www.bio.utexas.edu/grad/sp/MI2/

Katrina

Sounds like Polychrus marmoratus


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Devlin Gandy
I keep many rare and unusual lizards

Malaysian Cat Gecko ( Aleuroscalabotes felinus )

Draco maculatus maculatus

Xenosaurus grandis sanmartininsis

Thanks, that's her. Although the ones in these pictures look SO robust. How do you keep them? Have you ever hatched their eggs? I wouldn't have bought this one, but she was so pitiful and gravid, and I managed to talk the dealer down low enough that he probably didn't make a profit off of her.

Katrina

Simply her odds of surviving 3 months given what you said are about 500 to 1. Gravid female polychrus are exceptionally hard to acclimate due to improper nutrition during the import process and heavy dehydration both of which cause a great deal of stress and along with overcrowding allow parasites that are normally harmless to overwhelm her digestive tract. I myself have had gravid females survive only to die of egg binding. I myself keep 4 polychrus at the moment, had them for a few years. I believe reptiledepot.com has them in stock. Keep her heavily hydrated, constant high humidity, mistings. Warmth and excellent nutrition are needed now. Also she needs to be de wormed at some point with manacur and flagyl, though i cant give you a solid answer as to when to do this. Do research, start a new thread in the herp health forum etc. I wish there was more to say and a perfect way of fixing her up but there isn't.
Good luck and try your best,
Devlin
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Devlin Gandy
I keep many rare and unusual lizards

Malaysian Cat Gecko ( Aleuroscalabotes felinus )

Draco maculatus maculatus

Xenosaurus grandis sanmartininsis