Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have big Knight Anoles, basilisk, ameiva, iguanas but I don't know what this thing is? The pattern is just not right for Anole? Never seen this, looks like a bearded dragon pattern but I know it isn't that. Sorry so grizzly, I wanted to show tape measure and whole thing.

Body shot, crop the grizzly...

Probably Leiocephalus carinatus armouri, the Northern Curly-Tailed Lizard. I assume you found that in south Florida? If so..what county? They are quite common in parts of Palm Beach County, and probably established in all counties south of here. I can check that if you want.

~~Greg~~

You know I was rattling off the ones that occur here in my neighborhood and I completely left off the curly tail. You can see from the tape this thing is like 20" total length, that is one really big curly tail. I live right off I-95 and Davie blvd here in Ft. Lauderdale. I guess it must be a curly tail, but jeeze that thing was dang long with a really long tail. I guess the size of the thing is what made me post this, it just seemed too big. I was even considering some hybrid curly tail /knight anole. I had a Knight mate with an iguana once! (the iggy was a small juve!)
Thanks for responding

You're right! They don't get that long..only half that long. Now I really am at a loss as far as identifying it goes, but it can't be Leiocephalus. Maybe a juvie Cyclura?

~~Greg~~

My guess is a Brown Basilisk , possibly female.

I am pretty convinced it is a basilisk. They are not common in the neighborhood yet, except along the river. My neighborhood is cut off on two sides by New River and we do have lots of iguannas, but unless your yard is waterfront you don't see them. I am about five houses from the water and haven't had either in my yard yet that I know of. This DOR was in front of a waterfront house. I thought it was too robust and chunky for a basilisk. They are usually pretty slender. I think the color and pattern are right, the length is still pretty long for a female, I think. And it was pretty chunky. Maybe a little distorted from the trauma, but I walked my dog by it and was like, "what the heck is that thing?" I'll be keeping my eye peeled for them now. The anoles and all the others I spot daily, I get a kick out of them in spite of them being invaders.