Florida is surrounded by oceans on all sides; that is the reason why Florida has so many florida lizards favors at least 50 different species of Lizards to grow and reproduce because it maintains optimum temperature for their growth. Florida is home to not only native but also invasive lizards.
List of Lizards in Florida
List of Agamids:
List of Agamids
- Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor)
- Butterfly Lizard. (Leiolepis belliana)
- Common Agama. (Agama agama)
- Red-Headed Agama (Agama agama)
- Peter’s Rock Agama (Agama picticauda)
- Indo-Chinese Forest Lizard.
- Bloodsucker Lizard (Calotes mystaceus)
List of American Legless Lizards in Florida:
- Eastern Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis)
- Island Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus compressus)
- Mimic Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus)
- Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus)
List of Anoles:
List of Anoles
- Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
- Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)
- Knight Anole (Anolis equestris)
- Crested Anole (Anolis cristatellus)
- Puerto Rican Crested Anole
(Anolis cristatellus)
- Cuban Green Anole (Anolis porcatus)
- Hispaniolan Green Anole (Anolis chlorocyanus)
- Hispaniolan Stout Anole (Anolis cybotes)
- Jamaican Giant Anole (Anolis garmani)
- Large Headed Anole (Anolis sagrei)
List of Basilisk Lizards in Florida:
- Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus)
- Green Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)
List of Chameleons:
- Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)
- Oustalet’s Chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti)
- Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis)
- Jackson’s Chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii)
List of Geckos in Florida:
List of Geckos in Florida
- Mediterranean House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)
- Indo-Pacific Gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii)
- Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko)
- Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)
- Reef Gecko (Sphaerodactylus notatus)
- Yellow-Headed Gecko (Gonatodes albogularis)
- Tropical House Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia)
- Flat-tailed House Gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus)
List of Curly Tail Lizards in Florida:
List of Curly Tail Lizards in Florida
- Northern Curly-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus)
- Bahamian Curly-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus armouri)
- Leiocephalus carinatus virescens
- Hispaniolan Curly-tail (Leiocephalus personatus)
- Cuban Curly-tail (Leiocephalus cubensis)
- Turks and Caicos Curly-tail (Leiocephalus psammodromus)
- Leiocephalus schreibersii
- Leiocephalus personatus personatus
- Leiocephalus personatus mentalis
- Leiocephalus personatus varius
List of Horned Florida Lizards:
- Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)
List of Iguanas:
- Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
- Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis)
- Mexican Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata)
List of Monitor Florida Lizards:
- Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus)
- Savannah Monitor (Varanus exanthematicus)
List of North American Worm Lizards:
- Florida Worm Lizard (Rhineura floridana)
List of Skinks:
List of Skinks
- Five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)
- Southeastern Five-Lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus)
- Broadhead Skink (Plestiodon laticeps)
- Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis)
- Florida Sand Skink (Plestiodon reynoldsi)
List of Spiny Lizards in Florida:
Spiny Lizards in Florida
- Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)
- Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus woodi)
List of Tegu:
List of Tegu
- Argentine Black and White Tegu (Salvator merianae)
- Gold Tegu (Tupinambis teguixin)
- Red Tegu (Salvator rufescens)
List of Whiptail Lizards in Florida:
Whiptail Lizards in Florida
- Six-Lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata)
- Tiger Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)
- Giant Ameiva (Ameiva ameiva)
Lizard Habitats in Florida:
Habitats in Florida
Florida has a diverse landscape, which is why it supports a tremendous number of lizard species. Florida has a warm, humid climate that is a lizard’s heaven. Similarly, the coastal regions, forests, wetlands, and urban areas provide ideal candidates for both native and florida lizards to thrive.
Coastal Regions:
The coastal regions of Florida are one of the most common Lizard habitats. Especially species such as Green Anole and Brown Anole are found there.
The sandy dunes, mangroves, and coastal scrub provide abundant food sources and hiding places.
Forest:
Lizard species, such as the Eastern Fence Lizard and various skinks, are found in Florida forests. The famous Florida forest where lizards are found are:
- Pine Flatwoods
- Hardwood Hammocks
The dense canopy and leaf litter create a perfect environment for foraging and nesting.
Wetlands:
Wetlands are often moist and loose soil that is ideal for burrowing. Wetland habitats include Marshes and Swamps. They are suitable for species such as Florida Sand Skink.
Urban Areas:
florida lizards are found everywhere in urban environments. They have adapted well to live in urban areas. Lizards take advantage of gardens, parks, and buildings.
Species like the Mediterranean House Gecko and Brown Anelo are commonly found in residential areas because here, these species can easily find food as well as shelter.
Rocky Outcrops and Open Fields:
Some lizard species like to live in rocky outcrops and open fields. For example, the Six-Lined Racerunner prefers open, sunny areas with plenty of rocks and sparse vegetation. It provides them with basking spots and protects them from predators.
Lizard Infestation:
A lizard infestation occurs when a significantly high number of lizards invade and inhabit a particular area.
Preventing Lizard Infestations in Homes:
You should adopt the following strategies to prevent lizard infestations in homes:
- Habitat Modification
- Exclusion techniques
- Behavioral changes.
Reduce Food Sources:
Lizards are attracted to areas with abundant food.
This can be achieved by:
- You should keep lights off at night or use yellow insect-repellent bulbs because lights attract insects, which in turn attract lizards and cause lizard infestation.
- You should ensure that the garbage cans are sealed and food scraps are promptly cleaned up.
- You should reduce insect populations around your home to avoid lizard infestation.
- You should use insecticides cautiously and target specific areas where you know lizards are hiding.
Seal Entry Points:
You should Inspect your home for potential entry points and seal them to prevent lizards from getting inside florida lizards.
The key areas to check include:
- Does your house have Gaps around windows and doors? If yes, Install weather stripping and door sweeps to prevent lizard infestation.
- If the walls of your house have cracks and crevices in walls and foundations. You should use caulk or sealant to close these gaps.
- Vents and utility openings can be a source of lizard infestation. To avoid it, install mesh screens over vents and ensure utility openings are appropriately sealed.
Use Repellents and Traps:
There are various repellents and traps available to deter lizards. These repellents are a perfect way to get rid of Lizard infestation in Florida. You should use them to avoid Lizard infestation at your place.
- There are certain natural repellents, such as mixtures of garlic, onion, or pepper spray. You can apply them around entry points and potential lizard hangouts to get rid of lizards.
- Commercial lizard repellents are also available but should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Glue traps can be placed in areas where lizards are frequently seen, though these should be used humanely, with the intention of relocating the captured lizards.
Behavioral Changes:
You can adopt simple behavioral changes to avoid lizard infestation.
- Regularly clean areas where lizards are likely to hide, such as under furniture and in closets.
- Keep your doors closed, especially in winter.
With that being said, though lizards are scary and lizard infestation is a serious problem, not all lizards are harmful. You should take precautionary measures in advance to avoid lizard infestation at your place.
More info: Top 10 Swamp Animals You Need to Know About
FAQs About florida lizards
How long do lizards live?
Lizards in Florida can live from a few years up to 20 years, depending on the species and environmental conditions.
Why does Florida have so many Lizards?
Florida has a warm, humid climate and diverse habitats such as wetlands, sandy dunes, and forests. Hence, it provides ideal conditions for lizards, both native and invasive species.
How can we get rid of lizards in Florida?
You can get rid of lizards in Florida by
- Reducing insect populations.
- Sealing entry points to homes.
- Keep your door closed.
- Avoiding food resources for Lizards.
- Adopt specific behavioral adaptations, such as regular cleaning.
- Using lizard repellents or traps.
Which is the Largest Florida Lizard?
Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) is the largest Florida lizard.
Which is the Smallest Florida Lizard?
Little Brown Skink (Scincella lateralis) is the Smallest Florida Lizard.
Enlist the Invasive Lizards in Florida.
The Invasive Lizards in Florida are as follows:
- Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)
- Knight Anole (Anolis equestris)
- Argentine Black and White Tegu (Salvator merianae)
- Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus)
- Cuban Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)
- Red-headed Agama (Agama agama)
- Peter’s Rock Agama (Agama picticauda)
- Oustalet’s Chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti)
- Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)
- Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)
Name the Unique Lizards in Florida.
The Unique Lizards in Florida are as follows:
- Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)
- Six-Lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata)
- Florida Sand Skink (Plestiodon reynoldsi)
- Mole Skink (Plestiodon egregius)
- Florida Reef Gecko (Sphaerodactylus notatus)
Name Geckos in Florida
- Mediterranean House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)
- Indo-Pacific Gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii).
Poisonous Lizards in Florida
Florida does not have any native poisonous lizards. Some lizards are venomous, but they are not found in Florida.
