Can you I.D. this Florida lizard?

[ZEROPILOT]

Recently, there gas been a plague of these lizards in my neighborhood. They are large at 5 to 6" and very fast. I had thought them to be Curly Tail lizards until I caught this one by accident in a bucket. Brown with a scaly straight tail...

 

[stojanovski92113]

Don't know but sure is cute! That was like last summer in Michigan..couldn't believe the frogs and toads EVERYWHERE!!

 

[CharlieM]

Jesus lizard.

 

[bouaboua]

@russian/sulcata/tortoise

Can you tell?

 

[Itort]

Some type of Ameiva or jungle runner ?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

A "JESUS" lizard is a Basilisk lizard. (Run on top of the water) There are both brown and green basilisks around, but this is not one of them. Basilisk lizards have very long legs in the back, a different head and body shape and are almost always near water.
The really weird thing is that I have never seen these before. Ever. I'm pretty familiar with Florida lizards. ...And now they are absolutely everywhere. They are always near the ground and don't seem to climb very high. They are so chunky that when they run, it makes a lot of noise. Hard not to notice
them.
It reminds me about when the Curly Tail lizards first took over South Florida. I saw a few in Palm Beach County and then BOOM. They are everywhere.
Both the Curly tails and these are big lizards.(CT are bigger.) And this will likely not work out well for the smaller native lizards, skinks and geckos.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I'm thinking an AGAMA . Same scaly skin.

 

[CharlieM]

http://www.anoleannals.org/2013/05/15/another-bad-boy-anole-eating-lizard-gaining-ground-in-florida/

 

[ZEROPILOT]

That is the general shape and probably family.
They really ARE gaining ground. That's for sure.

 

[CourtneyG]

It actually looks like a Sceloporus sp, might be able to I'd it after more research. Do you have any more pictures, like the belly?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It actually looks like a Sceloporus sp, might be able to I'd it after more research. Do you have any more pictures, like the belly?

I let it go. I'm sure I can get another one. They really are everywhere.

 

[CourtneyG]

If I am correct it is a Sceloporus woodi.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

If I am correct it is a Sceloporus woodi.

I just looked it up and it DOES look just right. Indigenous, too. I wonder why they have suddenly taken over?
How about size? These are every bit of 6 inches plus.

 

[CourtneyG]

I just looked it up and it DOES look just right. Indigenous, too. I wonder why they have suddenly taken over?
How about size? These are every bit of 6 inches plus.

Surprised you say they are taking over, they are actually in decline. Adults normally are 5inches, but the populations are isolated and have high genetic diversity amongst themselves, they could of also started to hybridize with other Sceloporus species. Might be why you say they are about 6 inches and more.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Another one was in my garbage can today.
This one looks just like your link picture.
I caught another photo just as he jumped out of my hand.
Do you think they could be hybridized with the Curly Tails?

 

[CourtneyG]

Could be, but it looks like a juvenile Sceloporus woodi.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thanks

 

[ZEROPILOT]

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