Leiocephalus carinatus
—
Northern Curly-tailed Lizard
Also known as:
Northern Curlytail Lizard
This species is native to the Bahamas, but has become established in parts of Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County in southeastern Florida. This little family of two adults and two juveniles resided just next to a dumpster in a suburban campground. I think some of the other campers must have wondered about my mental state when they saw me slowly creep nearer and nearer to the dumpster, gripping my tripod.
Northern Curly-tailed Lizards now have established populations all over the greater Miami area. This one was part of a gang living on some decorative rocks in a South Miami front yard.
There's a thriving population of these Bahamian lizards in the "Spiny Forest of Madagascar" area in Fairchild Tropical Garden, where they share the rocks with big African agamas. I was saddened by the lack of Malagasy lizards in that exhibit.
Another healthy colony festooned rocks along the wharf's edge at a trendy park in South Beach.
Printed references:
- Bartlett, R. D., Bartlett, P. B. 1999. A Field Guide to Florida Reptiles and Amphibians
- Crother, B. I. (ed.) 2017. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, Eighth Edition
- Schwartz, A., Henderson, R. W. 1991. Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History