Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am normally in the snake and turtle forums, but have a question for you guys. Ever since Ivan hit the Gulf Coast of Florida I have seen tons of these guys at night. The thing is, I have lived here my whole life (30 years) and have never seen these guys, that is until Ivan. Can anybody identify for me? Sorry this guy has no tail, but the tail usually ha dark bands on it. Just wondering what they are and where they cane from.

Thanks a bunch

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Jenea

1:3 Eastern Hognose
0:0:1 Florida Redbelly Snake
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

n/m

Any idea why, after 30 years, we are seeing these guys ALL over the place?? I am not the only one to notice them. Could Ivan have dumped a bunch of them here? If so, what impact will they have on the native populations?
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Jenea

1:3 Eastern Hognose
0:0:1 Florida Redbelly Snake
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

Where exactly are you? Unless it is the SW where there are nocturnal lizards, I don't think they are damaging native populations........might compete a bit with tree frogs in urban and suburban areas, but they aren't that common in rural areas. I've seen them from Miami to Alpine, TX. I probably have at least 30 of them on my house and garage here in Baton Rouge......and I have plenty of ground skinks and anoles, too.
Jim

It is not like I am seeing just a few, they are everywhere. I see them on buildings, running on the roadside curbs at night, rural and developed areas. I personally think they are rather cute, but I cannot believe that I have just now noticed them after living here 30 years. I have always been "into" reptiles, so I know these are somewhat new to the area. Could Hurricane Ivan have swept them in?
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Jenea

1:3 Eastern Hognose
0:0:1 Florida Redbelly Snake
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

Maybe it is because of the devastation from the hurricanes the last couple of years.........all that junk left around. I know that it doesn't take long for a board or piece of tin around my house to attract young ones and, after a little longer adult ones. I'll bet they had a population explosion from all that extra "habitat" created by the discareded lumber, etc. It still amazes me how plentiful the Eurasian collared doves are here in the south all of a sudden. I know ya'll have plenty along the upper FL coast.
Jim

These house geckos were introduced to florida a long time ago. I lived in Jacksonville in '83-84 and there were plenty around then. Any non native species has an adverse impact on the environment. The impact on this species is probably minimal with regard to other herps, since they are nocturnal and exploit a niche that is otherwise neglected, by the native lizards. However, they probably impact moth populations or whatever other nocturnal insects they are eating. Which to most people is a good thing.

i'm not sure, but I think they're called sand geckos