The Sinai Agama – Blue Lizard

Though brown in color and relatively inconspicuous throughout much of the year, male Sinai Agamas show their true colors each breeding season by turning a striking shade of bright blue.

Photo: Ester Inbar

Sinai Agamas are lizards native to arid climates throughout much of the Middle East. They are diurnal carnivores, spending their days hunting for small insects, spiders, and occasionally plants. Mature males undergo their annual color change during the summer, at which time they become very territorial; females retain their normal color during this time, but gain brownish-red spots.

Photo: Lior Golgher

Meet the Iguana

Popular as exotic pets the world over, iguanas are perhaps as abundant now in introduced environments as they are in their native ranges.

There are only two species of iguana; the Lesser Antillean iguana and the green iguana. Green iguanas are by far the more common of the two, though they come in many colors other than green. These large lizards have a native range that stretches from southern Mexico through most of South America. However, in recent centuries they have become established in the wild as far north as Florida and Texas due to pet owners unlawfully releasing them. Green iguanas can survive in any humid environment above 79 degrees, and former pets often thrive under the right conditions.

Most green iguanas grow to a total length of about 5 feet. They are herbivores and must eat a specific mixture of leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables to remain healthy. Iguanas are primarily diurnal, which means they are active during the day, and have eyesight that can detect ultraviolet rays; important for finding the warmest place to sun themselves and regulate body temperature.

Legless Lizards

One look at the California legless lizard and it would be easy to believe you’re looking at a snake. However, there are several key differences that make this lizard decidedly un-snakelike.

For one, the legless lizard has movable eyelids, a trait snakes do not possess. Also, unlike snakes the California legless lizard is unable to open its jaws extremely wide to swallow large prey items and is therefore restricted to eating small insects and spiders.

There are eight families of lizards with members possessing either small legs, or no legs at all living throughout the world. So the next time you think you see a snake, look again!

It's a Monster! A Gila Monster

With a name like the Gila monster, this is one lizard you would expect to be fearsome, and in some respects you would be right. For one, the Gila monster is the largest land lizard in the United States and can reach lengths of up to two feet. It’s also one of only a handful of venomous lizards in the world.

Although the Gila monster might look and sound scary, it’s really not all that dangerous. Named for the Gila River basin in Arizona where they were first discovered, these lizards spend the majority of their lives underground in abandoned mammal burrows. They only emerge sporadically to feed and can survive on as little as five meals per year. The Gila monster mainly eats eggs and small mammals, secreting venom through its teeth while chewing to stun its prey.

Despite their venom and large size, Gila monsters pose almost no threat to humans. On the rare occasions that they are above ground they are extremely slow-moving. Bites can be painful, but rarely occur unprovoked. Gila monster venom is powerful, but is produced in much smaller amounts than snake venom; it is rarely fatal to humans.

Their fearsome size and venomous reputation has led to many Gila monsters being unnecessarily killed. This, combined with loss of habitat due to urban sprawl has led to the Gila monster becoming a species on the cusp of being endangered.

Anoles - The Chameleons that Aren't

The anole is a lizard that can climb walls like a gecko and change colors like a chameleon, but it isn’t closely related to either.

Green anole with dewlap extended.

Found throughout the southeastern United States and the Caribbean, anoles represent a family of lizards in the Iguana suborder. There are over 300 known species of these lizards, several of which have been introduced to non-native areas. The most well-known species, the Carolina anole, has been driven out of much of its native range due to competition from the introduced brown anole.

Brown anole

Anoles can be found living in trees and shrubs from ground level up to twenty feet high in warm climates. Their diet of insects makes them ideal natural pest controllers, and at less than seven inches long, anoles are not dangerous or aggressive towards humans.

Most anoles are green or brown in color and can change their pigmentation based upon mood. For example, the Carolina anole, usually bright green, can change to a dark brown color if distressed. Males have large dewlaps on their throats which they can inflate for courtship purposes.  Most anoles live 4-8 years in the wild and up to 14 years if raised in captivity.

The Venomous Gila Monster

The Gila monster is the largest lizard native to the United States. It can grow up to two feet and weigh over five pounds ... and it’s quite venomous. However, a Gila monster bite has never resulted in a human death. Instead of injecting venom (like snakes) Gilas grip victims and chew, allowing neurotoxins to spread from their teeth to the open wound. They can be easily spotted because of the bright pink, orange or yellow patterns that adorn the backs of their black bodies.

Bonus Fact: A type of protein found in Gila saliva can be used to treat diabetes in humans.

Running on Water

The basilisk, also known as the “Jesus Christ Lizard,” acquired its nickname because of its ability to run on top of water. When the Jesus Christ Lizard tries to escape from a predator, it gains enough momentum to frolic across water for a brief distance — usually about 10 to 20 meters. Its large hind feet with flaps of skin between each toe are similar to the webbing on a frog, which allows for the lizard to increase the area of the surface on the water that supports its weight.

Female Whiptail Lizards Can Do It All

The whiptail lizard is the only unisexual reptile, which means it’s the only species of reptile that consists of just females. These female lizards are asexual and reproduce using a method called parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction that produces an exact genetic duplicate of the mother. They have been around for generations, which makes their case especially interesting because without genetic variation, they can never evolve to adapt to their environment. Scientists still don't completely understand how they can survive without evolution, but for now, they seem to be adapting just fine.

The Intimidating Frilled Lizard

Whenever the Australian frilled lizard (a member of the dragon family) feels threatened, it stands on its hind legs, opens its mouth and expands a flap of skin that creates a circle around its head. If that doesn’t intimidate its predator, it turns and scurries off with its frill still wide open.

This circle of frill, not only helps in the warding-off-others department, but it also can be used to help the lizard regulate its body temperature. Because of these attributes, I think the frilled lizard is truly inspiring: Can you imagine if you could scare others off like this on those days when you’re simply not in the mood to talk? That would be a sight to see!

- Photo from Encyclopedia Britannica

Meet the Staff

Do you know of any company pets? Surely you've walked into a little boutique or a quirky bookstore and been met by the cat, dog, budgie or bunny that thinks they run things. Interaction with animals reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and prolongs your good health. We, at the Jungle Store, take our health very seriously and so our President has made sure to give us plenty of company pets to keep us calm and happy.

Malcom likes to stay close by our office's front doors. He's great at letting us know when guests arrive.

We have to keep Norton and Bruno at opposite ends of the warehouse. They tend to fight. Once we installed the company pool though, Norton got a lot happier. He spends the majority of his day there. The staff won't swim with him anymore as he tends to splash.

Patty, Maxine and Laverne help us oversee climate control. They get rather territorial about that thermostat.

Last week it was my turn to sort out a brief altercation among the Jamison Brothers. I don't know how many times we have to say it. Everybody gets just one donut on Fridays.

Iggy spends the warmer part of the day keeping the parkway free of weeds. What would we do without him?

Susan tends to the landscaping. She'll probably need more staff before the summer is over.


Last but not least, when something absolutely, positively must be there overnight, we ask Spike to take it. He's got a way with big packages.

Happy April Fools

Useful pet

This lovely gecko photo was taken by Dan Tombs. Geckos are small to average size lizards that are found in warm climates all over the world. There are 1,196 different species of geckos! They make chirping sounds to communicate. Some people keep geckos as pets. Many geckos have toe pads that allow them to climb smooth surfaces such as walls and even allow them to cross a ceiling. House geckos are valued as they eat insects.

movie star

I was first made aware of the Frilled Lizard in the animated movie “The Rescuers Down Under.” They made him such a cute character. But now for the facts.

The frilled lizard is also called the frilled neck lizard and the frilled dragon. His frill is activated by the lizard when frightened as he opens his mouth wide. As part of the bluff the lizard may hiss and jump towards the threat. The lizard prefers to run rather than fight and runs on its hind legs to the nearest tree which it rapidly climbs.

Until 1991, a frill-necked lizard was featured on the reverse of the Australian 2 cent coin.

Jungle Jane

It’s not really a beard

Bearded Dragons are native to Australia. What looks like a beard is a spiny pouch that the dragon expands to make him appear larger, when he is threatened. Sometimes the pouch is black which adds to the “bearded” look.

This photo my friend took in Australia is probably a Common Bearded Dragon. (His pouch is not expanded.) There are 8 species of bearded dragon and a variety of colors.

JJ

“Mine, mine!”

There are 7 species of lava lizards on the Galapagos Islands. They range in size from 5-6 inches to 1 foot long. Lava lizards vary in color from mottled gray or speckled copper to black with gold stripes. Males are more brightly colored and much larger than females. Females have bright red throats. Males are very territorial; they stake out a prominent spot on top of a boulder and indicate ownership by bobbing their heads up and down.

Wish I could have found a video of that...

JJ

One tough lizard

There are two species of land Iguana on the Galapagos Islands, plus a marine Iguana. Land iguanas range in color from yellow, gray, brownish red, to black or a splotchy mixture. Marine iguanas are red and bluish-green and black. Marine iguanas also excrete excess salt so often have crusty white spots on their heads.

The land iguanas eat prickly pear cactus pads and fruit—including the spines!—and other plants. Baby iguanas eat insects. The marine iguana is the world's only sea-going lizard and feeds on marine algae and sea weed. Big males can dive as deep as 40 feet and stay underwater for almost 30 minutes.

Water Walker

Want to see something hysterical? The Basilisk Lizard actually runs on water. Click on this video from National Geographic to see one in action. Have a bit of patience as the “water walking” doesn’t start immediately. But believe me it is worth the wait!

I’m glad they did part of the video in slow motion so we could see those legs churn. The rate of that sprint on the surface of the water is about 5 feet per second. It only lasts about 3 seconds, but still impressive!

Still laughing,

Jungle Jane