skip to main content

Name This Animal

Help me identify this lizard!

15 years ago

Hi, I live in Bridge City, Tx and the only kinds of lizards I have ever seen here are the little green ones. I saw this fellow this morning in my neighborhood and was so surprised! He was at least 12" long, and actually stood very still while I snapped his picture with my cell phone. I don't know who was more nervous, him or me. I was ready to bolt in case he came running at me! lol

Is he a pet iguana gone wild? Or something else. Sorry this picture isn't closer but it was a cell phone, and I had to leave myself some running room! lol

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Day_By_Day
15 years ago
Collard lizard.
mikeygraz
15 years ago
No, not a collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris). That is a bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps). VERY commonly sold and kept as pets - this is obviously an escaped pet. Keep an eye open for people missing their bearded dragon...
~Mike
Related Discussions
Help - TX lizards are killing off my geckos!
Q
Comments (20)
While I think it's laudable that you don't just kick the lizard off your porch, that's probably the reason he isn't scared of you. The lizards in my yard all run when I get close, as long as they think they have been spotted (or don't want to be spotted). So we may not easily be able to control what lizard families are in our yard, but we can certainly chase them away from places we want to sit. The funny thing is, my parents have those kinds of lizards at their place. I think they look less scary than the pink geckos, but at my place, I have the anoles and geckos. They seem to live in harmony, as far as one is seen in daytime and one is seen at night. I had never really thought they would compete for the same food sources or even one eating the other, though I suppose that could be what keeps each group in check around my house. I don't see any birds actively chasing them, even when they are out sunning themselves.
...See More
Can anyone identify this lizard ?
Q
Comments (30)
They might climb the screens especially when they are small tho i have one small female adult that will still climb the screens after a lizard. A little training with a squirt gun likely will curb their ethusiasm to climb. The screens will likely not rip but get pricks here and there. You will likely have to replace the screens more often than if you had no cats. But my screens are about 7 years old on my porch and still look ok tho certainly not pristine. The guys delivering the refridgerator did more damage than the cats. It really depends on the cat if they climb the screens or not. They do make pet friendly screening that i likely will use next time i rescreen...it is more heavy duty than the normal screen. You might want to get a metal screen guard for the door tho...for some reason that recieves more damage than the rest of the screens.
...See More
Help me identify this lizard
Q
Comments (3)
Does it look like any of these guys: http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/salamanderspics.html They are poisonous yes, but as long as you don't try to catch one and lick it there's no harm in having them around. They're skittish and avoid people. In fact, folks who keep salamanders as pets often stress how important it is to *not* touch them, because the oils and salts on our skin is very dangerous to them. In any case, it's a good idea kids understand the need to respect wildlife and to wash hands thoroughly before eating or rubbing their eyes.
...See More
Help me identify this chair and help me restore it.
Q
Comments (2)
The netting underneath the springs is damaged which resulted in the straw cushion filling falling out of the chair. So in order to make it a working/comfortable chair I need to restuff/refill the straw and attach a new netting. Then I wanted to lightly sand the entire chair and apply a new layer of oak stain. The leather itself is lightly damaged so I’m guessing I just need to treat that with a leather balm of sorts. IC : lot of work to be done
...See More
spearschix
15 years ago
Sorry mikeygraz that is not a bearded dragon. I breed them and can say for absolute sure that is NOT one. It does look like one from the sides and tail, but the head is clearly not a bearded dragon head. But you can see the black band around the neck. But you cant see so much of the color and collar lizards are colorful. With much research I came up with a desert spiny lizard native to those parts. You came across a nice big one. Consider yourself fortunate for such a find.
mikeygraz
15 years ago
Then I'd say you're very new at having seen bearded dragons or have poor eyesight, haha. The animal in the photograph is a bearded dragon. I think with as much research as you did, you'd see that desert spiny lizards have highly keeled scales which are quite reflective in the sunlight as well - neither of which that lizard exhibits. Also, just typing in "desert spiny lizard" to a google search engine brings up a lot more species than just desert spinies... Check out your pictures further - the animal is most definitely a bearded dragon...
~Mike
mikeygraz
15 years ago
By the way - look at the lateral row of horned scales - typical of bearded dragons and completely absent in desert spiny lizards. Also, look at the tail curling upwards - a behavioral trait not seen in the family Phrynosomatidae, but typical of Agamidae - the family to which bearded dragons belong. The large, blocky head with a distinct "neck", along with the lack of overlapping, keeled scales clearly show that this is NOT a desert spiny lizard, but a bearded dragon.
~Mike
Butterflyer1966
15 years ago
That is def. a Bearded Dragon!
I also bread them and have my BIG BOY sitting here right now next to me.. :)
Greetings
Susanne

Related Stories

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Backyard Birds: How to Identify Two Common Woodpeckers

By Habitat Network

Downy and hairy woodpeckers have similar coloration and behavior. But there are two big differences that separate them

DECORATING GUIDES Could a Mission Statement Help Your House?

By Laura Gaskill

Identify your home’s purpose and style to make everything from choosing paint colors to buying a new home easier

LIFE Decluttering — How to Get the Help You Need

By Alison Hodgson

Don't worry if you can't shed stuff and organize alone; help is at your disposal

ORGANIZING Help for Whittling Down the Photo Pile

By Jennifer Phelps: Organize. Design. Reinvent!

Consider these 6 points your personal pare-down assistant, making organizing your photo collection easier

ORGANIZING Get the Organizing Help You Need (Finally!)

By Laura Gaskill

Imagine having your closet whipped into shape by someone else. That’s the power of working with a pro

DECLUTTERING Downsizing Help: How to Edit Your Belongings

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Learn what to take and what to toss if you're moving to a smaller home

ORGANIZING 4 Questions to Help You Organize Your Favorite Photos

By Jennifer Phelps: Organize. Design. Reinvent!

Organize your keeper photos with a system that's just right for you, whether it's in the cloud or you can hold it in your hand

SELLING YOUR HOUSE Help for Selling Your Home Faster — and Maybe for More

By Laura Gaskill

Prep your home properly before you put it on the market. Learn what tasks are worth the money and the best pros for the jobs

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 10 Low-Cost Tweaks to Help Your Home Sell

By Lurdes Abruscato

Put these inexpensive but invaluable fixes on your to-do list before you put your home on the market

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 5 Savvy Fixes to Help Your Home Sell

By Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

Get the maximum return on your spruce-up dollars by putting your money in the areas buyers care most about

Sponsored

More Discussions

Unable to identify this

2