Lizard, Coastal Western Mexico (1 Viewer)

[SueO]

I have tried to google this, but couldn't find anything. I did find what looks to be a perfect book for future use: Anfibios y Reptiles Del Estado De Colima by Jacobo Reyes Velasco. Didn't appear to be on Amazon, but it did have a place to order. That will have to wait till I get home. I was out birding this morning when my eyes were drawn to some movement in the dry and leafless understory. There were two small lizards that appeared to be having a battle. I thought one was having the other for breakfast. I took a few photos, but I didn't want to watch the outcome, so I left. It was still early and the lighting wasn't good, so photos aren't great. I'm kicking myself now for being squeamish, because after looking at the photos, I'm not sure a cannibalistic battle was raging, and I lost an opportunity to explore further. They almost look like baby basilisks, but unless they are offspring from somebody's dumped pet, I'm pretty sure they can't be. I don't think they are present this far north, and there are no streams other than small seasonal creeks. I am on the coast, on the border of the States of Colima and Jalisco. I looked at baby iguana images, and they already have spikes. Anyway, if anyone can help, I would appreciate it.

 

[RJP]

I really only know and have books for lizards in the U.S., but these really look like some kind of Anole (family Dactyloidae) to me. Problem is, Mexico has over 50 species. This section of bird forum has low traffic, and you might not get an answer here to this one. If you are on Facebook, you could also try the following group as traffic there is quite a bit higher. Facebook Groups

 

[SueO]

I really only know and have books for lizards in the U.S., but these really look like some kind of Anole (family Dactyloidae) to me. Problem is, Mexico has over 50 species. This section of bird forum has low traffic, and you might not get an answer here to this one. If you are on Facebook, you could also try the following group as traffic there is quite a bit higher. Facebook Groups

Hi RJP,
They do seem to have an anole face, but I've never seen one with the raised ridge. Maybe that is just an optical illusion? It seems they have a 'mohawk', similar to iguanas or basilisks. I no longer have FB. I can try a herp forum though. Thanks for the response.

 

[SueO]

I really only know and have books for lizards in the U.S., but these really look like some kind of Anole (family Dactyloidae) to me. Problem is, Mexico has over 50 species. This section of bird forum has low traffic, and you might not get an answer here to this one. If you are on Facebook, you could also try the following group as traffic there is quite a bit higher. Facebook Groups

Hi Again RJP,
Just got back from dinner and decided to investigate your thought. So far, I've found a Brown Anole, native to Cuba and the Bahamas with a raised back. It is highly invasive and is now found in many states in the US (due to the pet trade). No reason it couldn't be here. However, maybe there is something similar that is native here. EDIT: I did see many anoles during our sailing trip. Starting in St. Lucia in the Caribbean all the way through to Mexico. This is the first time I've noticed a raised back, so I wouldn't have thought 'anole'. I have something to go on now, thank-you so much.

 

[Andy Adcock]

I think Brown Anole is highly likely.

Brown anole - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[SueO]

Yes, and they appear to be cannibalistic.

Brown Anole Eats Another Brown Anole

Photo tweeted by Sarah Knutie. Have we talked about cannibalism previously on AA? A quick search on our search bar finds two hits, one noting such tendencies in knight anoles, the other not very sp…

www.anoleannals.org

 

[SueO]

Just put my name on a list to 'reserve' a copy for Mr. Valasco's book: NEW BOOK: Amphibians & Reptiles of Colima
I will also post a photo for another lizard I saw but couldn't ID. Some kind of spiny lizard, I think? It was quite large, maybe 10 inches? Hard to say. The tree it one on had a huge circumference. EDIT: spiny rather than fringe