Off To See The Lizard
“Off to see the lizard…..” (lyrics by Jimmy Buffett)
You can go just about any where in southwest Florida and see both Brown Anoles and Curlytail Lizards scurrying at your feet, or on door/window screens, trees, plants; you might even find one that slipped into your home!
Harmless, but they always did startle me each time I’d see one.
My hand at shots of these little 5-11″ prehistoric-looking critters the past couple months…..
Brown Anole flashing its dewlap
Curlytail Lizard
Curlytail Lizard
Curlytail Lizard
Curlytail Lizards
Brown Anole
Curlytail “giving me the eye”
And by the way, don’t try to catch one. If you do, their tail might fall off; and it will keep wiggling!
This is actually its defense mechanism to attract the predator’s attention so the lizard itself can hopefully scurry away to safety. And, yes, s/he will grow a new tail! 😊
Photos by Donna 
Amazing creatures! Now, just imagine those, the size of dinosaurs! Good shots, Donna. 🙂
Thank you, HJ! OMgosh, it is almost unimaginable! 😲 I still scream while watching the movie, Jurrasic Park!
Once on vacation, my young son tried catching one and its tail came off! I was SO upset, not to mention it was rather gross! 😀
Oh my, I’d have been upset and freaked out too! I only knew about the tail-drop defense a few years ago. 😉
Depends on how you look at them, they can be ugly or pretty. I like the tinge of blue under the eye of the Curlytail. Anything that moves that fast startles me, gives me the creeps.
Thank you, Jane, I agree! Until shooting them up close, I had no idea there was tiny bits of color on them. 🙂
So ugly they are pretty! I remember my daughter’s years in Florida when she was in grad school at U of FL in Gainesville, then doing post-doc work in Tallahassee at Florida State – every time we visited her we saw anoles everywhere. Thanks for sharing and bringing back memories!
Thank you, Susan, there is beauty in all creatures! 🙂 They do like to pop out on you at the worse moment! LOL
What a lovely little Lizard Donna. Love that tail, it must be the little Fox Terrier version, though it sounds like more of a terror when it catches you by surprise. 🙂
Thank you, Ashley! They were fascinating when I knew where they were and could watch them. Sneaking out on me startled me every time! 😉
It only goes to show that what might be a common sight to you, is a new experience for others… So many thanks for sharing these beautiful little(?) creatures. Fabulous pictures as always. 😊
Thank you, Mike! They don’t give much longer than 11″ head to tail tip. Most times they’re much smaller 6-8″. They are a diet staple for many birds. 😲
Love the curly tail! Different.
Thank you, Liz!
Nice Shots Donna! Quite a collection of lizards! Plus now I know what kind they are!
Thank you, Reed! They were a fun challenge when they weren’t sneaking up on me! 😉
Lovely lizards, Donna! And, yes, the way they move is always startling, no matter how prepared you are to see them.
Thank you, Imorgana! You know what I mean!! hee hee
They are lovely.☺☺❣
Thank you!
“We’re off to see the lizard, the Wonderful Lizard of Oz…” Wait. What? 😄
Handsome lizards. I’ve got little blue-tailed skinks all over the place. They like to hide under planters. When I lived in Texas, we would get these clear geckos on the kitchen window. The had fingers like tree frogs and you could see their insides. They would always get in the house. You would see them dart around in the corner of your eye. Quick little things. I’d find dead ones in door frames where they got squished. Dead, clear geckos make interesting art. 😆
Oh my goodness, clear geckos! 😝 I’ve never seen them before, just looked them up…..frightening lol. They all are, I’m petrified of spiders, I think these come in line with that fright!
I have a bigger fear of the scorpions. I remember sitting and waiting for the bus in northern Austin (with U of T students and downtown professionals) when a scorpion crawled up on the stone bench next to me…like he was waiting for the bus, too. THOSE things…OY. They were everywhere and came out when there was new construction (the bus stop was new).
😲 YIKES!
Exactly!
That title brought a smile to my face!
And now I am smiling!
I was surprised to see one too when I visited Key West. The curled tail makes you think of scorpions.
They are adorably startling! 😊
Oh, that curled tail is different! I didn’t see one when I was in FL and there were lots of little very fast lizards all over my Mom’s neighborhood. I need to go back! 😀
I love your image of the Brown Anole! Well spotted and photographed, Donna!!
Thank you, Deborah! I saw the Curlytails more local to the coastal areas of the Everglades. When I got into the swamps, I only saw the Brown Anoles. I read the Curlytails are predators of the Brown Anoles too…. 😲
Oh, that’s not nice! 😀
Nicely done, Donna! I can’t see myself chasing one of these little guys though. 😏
Thank you, Belinda! I will admit, most were taken while I was sitting on an Everglades NP’s bench seat. With an eye on my feet at the same time. I looked down once and one was moving towards my foot and was six inches away! I screamed and he took off like lightning! 😂
I never tire of seeing your Florida pics. 😊
Awwwwww, thank you, Irene! 😊
There is something about their movement that causes a startle reaction in me. I can’t seem to get used to them, or snakes. Eric has to do ‘poop patrol’ in what I call the snake patch because of that. Luckily they seem to disappear in late fall, but they’re all back again now!!! EEEK!
I’m with you, Gunta! I have to add spiders to the list!
Not sure how I managed to not be bugged by spiders, but snakes are ones that bug me most, followed by lizards. Luckily I’m not too likely to encounter any alligators! Smile 😃