Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Cheers all! I have been collecting lizards and breeding lizards mostly in California for over 45 years. I have bred about every lizard you can think of from California at least once in my life, but here is my issue, I have been loooking for Texas Alligator lizards for quite some time, I live in Medina County and they are indigenous to the area. I have friends who have seen them in cedar trees, I have flipped rocks until I am blue in the face, and ran into everything but an Alligator lizard, does anyone have an insight as to where or what I am missing here. I have access to some awesome areas in Mico, and also up by medina Lake and know these are found there (seen the pictures) but I'll be darned my pride and put that aside. So if you all could chime in with some insight I would "sure" appreciate it. I am just stumped, I assume the type of areas I found them in California would produce such, but to no sucess!! LOL!!! I figure one of you from Texas might teach an old man new tricks. Cheers!!!
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www.phrynosoma.org

I currently breed and am doing research on gerrhonotus with Harry Greene. Email me for more information.
Phil

The area witch I live in California tends to see more action in early spring then as the year wears on you see less and less of them, in the hottest months they seem to be gone all together and may make another short appearance in Fall. I find them generally in sparsely vegetated areas, maybe fairly opened fields of oak, flip the downed pieces of oak but keep a sharp eye.
Foot Hill Reptiles

I live in Boerne, and there are times in April and October when the gators seem to be everywhere. Other times, they seem to vanish. I've never had any luck flipping. Found them road cruising through suitable habitat, but they are HARD to see on these Texas ranch roads. I've also found several by walking through suitable habitat on a Spring morning-you'll usually see them stretched out on a sunlit branch from 2-10 ft from the ground.

Hope this helps.
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Brad Chambers

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Thanks for responding with respect to the alligator Lizards, yes it seems unanimous almost everyone said forget flipping unless you got some tin or an old board with leaf litter that looks good. For the most part everyone that responded says look for them in the trees and they do seem to climb, and thats your best shot at finding them. Right now is a bad time, but I will in the future when it warms up make some excursions into the cedar line area around Medina Lake and then up by Leaky as well and see what I can come up with.....
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www.phrynosoma.org

I live in Killeen, Texas and have to go to the Austin area to hunt Texas gators. They are laying on the ends of low shrubs waiting to drop on prey. You will find them about six inches to two feet off the ground. As you know, they really blend and they do not move when you approach. This makes them very hard to spot but much easier to catch. Once you spot the first it will be much easier to know what to look for. They are not a fast lizard at all. Give it some time and you will do well.
Dave
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One man with faith equals the majority.
Thomas Jefferson