Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all! I just ran across a picture of a Phymaturus verdugo, which is a member of the liolaemus squamates of south American lizards and looks like a Chuckwalla! Check it out! It is pretty psychodelic looking, like ornate Uros. If you removed the body color, you'd swear it was a Chuck. And it is herbivorous and...get this...viviparus. Why have I never seen one of these before??? Way cool! Wikepedia has a picture.

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No kidding! When you find out where to get some, clue me in! LOL

Nick, if you go to Wien Lab's homepage there is a larger remarkable picture of one!

There was a ton of these guys imported back in the late 80's early 90's about the time they were bringing in all those Chilean lizards; chilean chukwallas, chilean collared chilean leopard lizards. Forgot the genus. Anyeay they were marketed as Argentine chuckwallas. Nothing like our chucks at all. More like a redheaded agama. Real hyper and skittish. Did very poorly. I remember the only thing they would eat was overripe broccoli when it flowered. Probably not the same species but the same genus. The were black with a midnigt blue haze to them. They were not all that great although the species pictured looks pretty nice.

That is bad news...I was in love. Well, Ceylonese Water Monitors, South East Asian Water Monitors, and Nile Water Monitors all look alike, but have different personalities. Maybe this sub-species could have better luck. (Maureen, ever hopeful). I know someone in Chile. If they are still there, perhaps the Santiago Zoo has some information. Did you ever have any of these back in the 80' and 90's, Tom? (The overly ripe broccoli flowering sounds up close and personal! LOL)

AWESOME Maureen, lets go and get us some, hehehehee !
Just beautiful
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Eve
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