Another Bad Boy Anole-Eating Lizard Gaining Ground In Florida

Red headed agama in Florida. Photo by John Rahn.

Red headed agama in Florida. Photo by John Rahn.

Anole correspondent John Rahn, of Big Kahuna fame, reports that red-headed agamas are becoming established well beyond Miami. Here’s what he has to say after re-spotting an individual in a Starbucks parking lot that he had previously seen last fall: “I don’t know what he’s eating in that parking lot, but he is HUGE now. My girl at Starbucks says these are all over the place in Jupiter now. He’s survived the fairly cold weather we’ve had, this winter. He is a beauty! Saw another one, same shape, but smaller and very little color.”

AA recently discussed these guys at the Fairchild Botanical Gardens in Miami, and James Stroud suggested that they may have a big and negative effect on anoles, similar to that of curly-tailed lizards. Curlies are also in Jupiter and areas north of Miami–I wonder how these two sun-loving species get along.

Jonathan Losos

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212 Comments

  1. These are at least three large breeding populations as far north as Stuart, Florida… it is amazing to me how they have spread across 8 lane super roads such as US-1!! I estimate that one of these populations consists of about 5-10 breeding coloration males and at least 50 females, some of which appeared gravid yesterday when I visited the site. They appear to eat fire ants too… a study waiting to happen!

    • Eric

      Just saw one of these lizards, a male, outside the house. Port Charlotte fl.

      • Rick

        Spotted a good-sized male yesterday (3/15/2017) at 76 Golf World (mini-golf and entertainment center) on Kanner Hwy, Stuart, FL.

        • Dee

          Does anyone have more info. Here in Fort Pierce, Fl they ARE out of control. Live in condo any our pool area is infested with them. They are huge and multiply fast. What can we do?

          • Rick Wallach

            Not much, really.

            If your condo allows dogs or cats, giving them occasional run of the pool deck (scoop in hand) will eventually scare them away. It will take some time but it’s do-able. If not, maybe you could recommend the association bend the rules a little until the lizards have moved off to safer territory.

            Although they range up into the mountains of east Africa, and are probably a bit cold hardy because of it, they’re warmth-loving lizards. If you wait until your first pronounced cold snap of the fall or winter you should be able to collect quite a few of them with a narrow pole (ie like a fishing rod) with a slip-noose.

            Then it’s pretty much up to you or your condo association. If you euthanize them humanely, for example by bagging them in plastic and leaving them in a box freezer for a few hours, you shouldn’t have any problem with local authorities. If you bludgeon them, which isn’t necessary anyway, you might run afoul of local animal cruelty ordinances and be facing fines or jail time. Same thing goes for trying to poison them, which exposes other animals like cats, birds and dogs to the poisons and is against the law statewide.

            You could also take them to a less inhabited area where they’ve already been seen and release them there. I doubt if you’d be adding much to the feral population, which is expanding rapidly anyway.

            Otherwise, learn to grin and bear it.

          • Wayne James

            They are here to stay. At least they are attractive unlike the curly tailed brown lizards in S. Fla. If the red ones ever migrate into palm beach down they will take over.

        • Tom

          They are here in vero beach florida i see them all the time

          • Lori Shepard

            Yes I just saw one in Vero Beach Saturday July 11th. Also saw lots of Curly Tails in Cocoa Beach July 12th, 2020. Are these from people letting them go???

          • Jonathan Losos

            Originally. But now they’ve established breeding populations.

          • Rick Wallach

            Jonathan – I’m not so sure about the curlytails being primarily the descendants of former pets. The Bahamian species occurs naturally just a little ways across the water and could easily have been blown over here on vegetation floatsam and reef wrack during storms; I recall them on Virginia Key around the Seaquarium and the old lamented bocci courts from when I was an adolescent, which is longer ago than I’d care to remark.

            The comparatively dowdy L. carinatus, very common in the Bahamas, seems to be the most numerous, but I have also seen L. personatus, the more decorative red-sided (male) Hispanolan species, fairly often. The latter might be a better candidate for post-pet shop release because they’re so much prettier (and Pet Smart, probably not alone among chains, still carries them).

          • Jonathan Losos

            Certainly possible!

          • LeiifA

            My wife and I saw 2 of these Agamas in the last 2 days, 8-13 & 8-14. One at the A1A 7-11 on the island just south of 17th st and A1A, the other was at the Autozone on US1 across from the closed Kmart.

            Currently trying to get rid of curly tails near where we live. They are decimating the anole populations here.

          • Terry Hughed

            I was just in Vero beach and was amazed when I saw one of these beauties on the side of the CVS,,, He was chasing a small lizard. When he saw me slowly approaching to try to get a pic,, he ran into the bushes ,, it was so cool

        • Dawn Gahabka

          Just saw one in a Publix parking lot near fort myers beach

      • Janice Keiser

        Just spotted one yesterday moving on a neighbors driveway on SW Statler in Port Saint Lucie, FL! 1st time I’ve seen one but we are new to the area!

      • Donna

        I have them as far north as ft pierce FL.

        • Ann Frederick

          Just saw two this AM while walking along the St. Lucie river walk, by the Roosevelt Bridge! Cam back and looked up what they were….run funny!

      • Joyce

        See them all the time in my apartment complex in Miami/homestead fla. they are bigger than the average size lizard and I’m terrified of them

      • Noah

        I seen one living at sonic in Naples fl he’s awesome! Never seen this before I watched while I waited for my lunch.

    • NaniB

      Just saw one of these fat red heads staking a claim on a hole in a rotting oak tree in my yard. I’m in Steinhatchee, FL, north gulf coast at the big bend.

      • Rick Wallach

        They’re actually community-forming and the alpha male will stake out a spot like that hole, and defend it against the younger males. As a rule you get one big male and maybe a half a dozen females, and the smaller males hang out on the periphery because if the alpha sees them approaching his females he’ll shoo them off.

        I expect to see a National Geographic special on rainbow agama social life any day now.

      • Wayne James

        How did this happen 2 years ago I never saw one of those prehistoric looking yellow lizards like you see in Martin and St Lucie Counties, and then about a year ago I spot my first yellow lizard in Broward County. Now I’m seeing these yellow lizards in different sections of Broward County, but what’s odd is everytime I see one I only see one never a pair. The brown curly tailed lizards seem very on edge around the new new kid in town and chase them away. IMO someone introduced those yellow lizards to the area within the last year. The yellow lizard seem like they just want to socialize, they aren’t aggressive towards the curly tailed lizards not yet at least. Will the 2 breed?

        • Rick Wallach

          I’d be really shocked if they did breed, because the “yellow” (I would say orange, though they come in a variety of colors, especially during their mating season) lizards you’re seeing are rainbow agamas, from a totally different family of lizards (Agamidae) from the curlytails (Tropiduridae). If by some small miracle they did breed, I would bet the progeny would be mules.

          One reason you don’t see “pairs” is because the females are usually dull gray or brown, without the coloration of the males, and look like our native southern fence lizards (Sceloporus), I have seen pairs many times down here in Kendall; there are at least two pairs that alternate their time between my neighbor’s yard and my rock garden. Kestrels seem to prey on them readily, probably because those bright colors attract their super keen eyesight. In turn, they do prey on anoles – I’ve seen one of “my” big males chasing a brown anole, which, fortunately that time, eluded it by running into a thick patch of lantana.

          These agamas have been popular in the reptile pet trade for a long time so, frankly, I’m not at all surprised they’ve dug in for the duration – along with the steppe runners, amievas, basilisks, water dragons, various geckos, iguanas and what all else have you which are fairly common where I live.

      • Steven

        Are you sure it was not a broad-headed skink?

      • Laura Giblin

        Will they eat all my geckos and camellias?

    • Terra Draco

      Saw one outside my house in Panama city just this morning at first I thought I was seeing things, it was really early and I was taking my Rhodesian Ridge-back mix for a walk. The fireworks last night freaked her out and she kept me up til three A.M. At first glance I thought it was just a really big anole we have hundreds around our house, but then the orangy-red head registered and I looked again. I caught one more glimpse as he scurried for cover and his tail also had a band of orange. I have always been fascinated with reptiles so after my walk I consulted a few books I had and identified it then I found this sight and had to comment. It appears the invasive little suckers have reached Panama City. If I see him again I’ll try to net him and take a picture.

      • Wayne

        I see the lizards with the orange band above palm beach county but not below and definitely not in broward south.

    • Amy

      There’s one living in our tree in the front of our house in Vero Beach Florida! I’ve seen him 4 times this week!

      • Cindy

        Hey, I’m in Vero as well and I just spotted one run into our wood stack. It was very timid so I was unable to get a decent picture. I will keep my eyes peeled for future sightings.

        • Dale Arthur

          I saw one behind the Pet Co in Vero Beach I at first thought that it had gotten out of the store but I guess not

          • Wayne

            Wow was it a brown or reddish? I’m surprised they are that far north

        • Mb3

          Another one on 9th RD SW in Vero Beach. About 10 inches long. Beautiful.

          • Wayne James

            Why do people act like seeing one of these lizards is like see Jesus. These lizards are here and here to stay. The Geco sighting will be a rarity in 15 years because the big lizards are feasting on the Geco. The Geico lizards are thinning in S FL.

          • Rick Wallach

            If only the palmetto bug sighting would follow suit.

      • Linda Garard

        I saw one today olive garden parking lot vero beach

    • Mary Frankhouser

      We have a clan of them living in our parking lot in Jupiter. I think they have found a way into my ceiling. Is that possible and are they dangerous?

      • Jonathan Losos

        Yes, it’s possible and, no, they’re not at all dangerous

        • Wayne james

          I would wipe down any surfaces that you suspect they may have walked over in your home. The lizards carry nasty bacterium.

      • Danny

        Yes they can go in your attic. My friend just dealt with this in Port St. Lucie.

    • Jorge

      We have a population of about 5 of these red headed “rainbow” lizards, in our backyard, in SW Miami, FL. Females are smaller, squatter, andbrownish. I’ve seen them running around eating small insects. I hope they don’t eatother lizards, flowers, or fruit.

      • Robbie Thomas

        They eat our native lizards, They are dumpster divers too.

    • Pat

      I saw my very first Red-Headed Agama…a male….in a complex off Federal Hwy in South Stuart, Florida. Don’t know if he was someone’s pet or is wild but I wanted to inform someone of this nonnative species being this far North. I have seen him 4 times in the last three weeks.

    • Joe Ruby

      They are in Ft Myers now, around six months ago they towed a farm bus from Glades county into shop , today I spotted 3 males and one females, they hitch hiked here I guess.

    • Kevin orozco

      Just saw one on southern and military trail on the side walk;very colorful very cool.

    • Wendy Bassett

      I live in Hobe Sound Fl and have seen a few here and as well in Stuart

      • Stephanie L

        Just saw one of these lizards at a rest stop at Mims, FL. They seem to be moving north.

    • Matt white

      I’m looking at four males right now in Stuart. Not sure exactly how many we have here but every corner I turn there is another one darting away

    • Jayme

      I have some bad news for you…these things have completely taken over St. Lucie county, specifically, Fort Pierce ????????????????

    • Megan

      We have one of these in Vero Beach that is about 12 inches long, he’s quite pretty.

  2. another photo of one of the dominant males at my favorite site in Stuart, Florida.

    • David

      I just witnessed a clan of these with a population count of about 25 with 2-4 obvious dominant males and dozen or so females. They were very aggressive. They were congregated around a 7-11 in Stuart, Fla. near old downtown BEFORE you cross the bridge.

      • Scott

        There’s one living behind the Walgreens on U.S. 1 and Prima Vista in Port St. Lucie

    • David Schozer

      I saw one in Club Med Resort, Port St. Lucie Fl…
      Healthy Male, about 14-16 inches in length….

      • Teresa Boone

        I’ve seen one twice in front of my home in st lucie west. Black with red head and tail. How can you tell the gender?

        • Edward Defini

          I have a big one behind my office @ 466 SW Portland St Lucie blvd

      • Richard

        I just saw one in the Publix parking lot in Homestead Fl.

        • JAFI

          They are living and breeding all over Fort Pierce. I see them daily almost every shopping center or store parking lots we frequent.

  3. mike willis

    While walking the bridge that seperates punta gorda and port charlotte we noticed about six on the rocks by the river with one large very atractive male. He let us get about ten feet away before he moved to the next rock

    • Steven

      on the north side of the 41 Bridge Crossing Charlotte Harbor we saw a colony of them most with green heads one with an orange head

  4. Kelly

    I saw one of these guys in Vero Beach today, crossing 4 lanes of traffic on U.S. 1. I turned around to see what the heck it was. I saw it crawling and thought it was an iguana. It had the same exact body colors as the photo above with a more grey/brown head. He just sat there almost 2 feet from the side of the road toward safety with cars whizzing by. I don’t know if he ever made it.

  5. John Brooker

    I’ve witnessed 2 separate colonies in Stuart. In one there was only one dominant,colorful male and approximately 5 females. And the other colony consisted of 3 dominant males and nearly two dozen females.

  6. Jeff

    Went to a game at Martin County High school on March 12, 2015. These lizard were everywhere behind the the bleachers and portable classroom area. Saw at least 20 within minutes.

    • Gail wotanowicz

      These guys appear to be multiplying fast in Summerfield development in Stuart. 4/29/17

  7. Mike

    Saw one today at the 711 near the mall. Jensen beach. Got a video.

  8. Robert Long

    They’re in Ft. Pierce right alongside the curly tails

    • Wayne

      Interesting I haven’t seen any curly tailed lizards above PB county, but I see a lizard that’s the same size as curly but has red markings from STEWART North.

  9. Marion Jones

    One spotted 7-5-2015 at The Stuart Lodge, also in Lexington Lakes.

  10. Ralph Zeblin

    I saw one of the red headed agamas at the Fort Pierce Farmers Market first time last week. It was missing part of its tail, which I suspect will grow back. I also have a curly tail living under my driveway in Port St. Lucie.

  11. Paulette

    We have a male red headed one living around the outside of our house. There was a female but haven’t seen her in several weeks. Maybe the neighbor’s cat got her? We have seen a lot fewer chameleons and little lizards, could the big guy be eating them?

  12. dave

    Saw a couple in Stuart Shell Station by their dumpsters .North side of Roosevelt Bridge.
    Yesterday It was at least 14 inches long and very colorful.

  13. Chevy

    I’ve noticed them in Summerfield all over. This is the 1st year I’ve seen so many. As I drove out of the subdivision today I must have spotted 20 of them in the streets.

  14. Cassandra O

    I saw one today while at work in Orlando, Fl. I’ve never seen one before and had to Google it to figure out what it is. I can’t believe how big it is!

  15. Derf H.

    We have a male and at least 2 females living in our back yard in Stuart, FL just south of the airport.

  16. Charlie

    Saw 2 today in Vero beach. Male approx 8 inches and smaller female approx 4 inches. Thought it might have been someone’s pet. Never saw one before!

  17. Lin

    Saw one today at Foosner Art Gallery parking lot in Eau Gallie, Brevard County. Saw another about a month ago a few blocks from this area. Both had bright colors and were 12 to 15 inches.

    • MAP

      Saw a big red head today in the Eau Callie area of Melbourne, Florida. Was shocked at the vibrant colors on jet black body. This one was 8-10 inches in length. On the corner is US-1 & Aurora Road. Scampered up a tree before I could get a picture.

  18. N

    Saw one in Miami, at the Pinecrest Library, next door to the botanical gardens. Stunned me with its beauty

  19. Jose Cabus

    I see one of this every day on my delivery route. It has a bright orange head, and does not get along with curly tails.

  20. Father Jerry Kaywell

    I have two of these guys living in the roof of my rectory – Sacred Heart Church, Punta Gorda. One of them likes to hang out on the wall facing east on US 41. It’s a beautiful sight!

    • Harold Bubil

      They are not all Catholics, though. A group of them like to “congregate” on the First United Methodist campus on Gill Street between Marion and Olympia avenues! 😉

  21. Ginger Pedersen

    A big breeding colony is at the Seminole Inn at Indiantown – saw two large makes and little ones everywhere.

  22. Sandy

    I have seen a bunch of these at a concrete plant in Apollo Beach

  23. Mike

    Home Depot in Jenson beach us 1 had a few and the big one they named Lary

  24. Dana

    We have seen these in our community in St Lucie West off Peacock. Man, they are fast! Very cool to spot!

  25. Lee

    We have them in Fort Pierce as well at the Walmary.

  26. Holly

    I saw one in a Dollar General parking lot in homestead Florida.

  27. Chris Moffitt

    Say my first one today at a Burger King in Indiantown. Looked like a large male with a smaller female. I used to raise bearded dragons so was very interested in seeing this species. Unlike the bearded dragons these appear to be much less friendly. Anyone know if they are known to carry desease or bite.

  28. Gary

    Got something that looks like one in Ocala. It’s solid light brown with a red head. About a foot long. It doesn’t seem to fear humans.

    • Bruce Strnad

      We have one in Lake City in our kitchen !

      • Janice Keiser

        A few days ago….We saw a red & black lizard in the parking lot by the Dunkin Donuts on Port Saint Lucie Blvd & Airoso Blvd in Port Saint Lucie FL!

  29. I saw one at Walmart in Homestead Florida.

  30. Dana

    Just saw my first one of these yesterday behind CVS at Tulip & psl blvd. I looked up red headed lizards in fla and came across this site. This is definitely what i saw! But only 1 by the dumpster.

  31. Bena Ball

    Spotted one of these guys yesterday in N. Ft Myers, Florida. Nearly 12 inches long.

  32. Linda Edwards

    I have a green and brown anole. The green one came from outside and the brown one I bought at pet smart. They don’t like to be held it stresses them out. They can bite but it don’t hurt. If also learned they can carry disease so just make sure you wash your hands after messing with them or their cage.

    • Wayne james

      Why would you buy one when they’re free in the wild? Are you talking about the little ones or the real big ones?

  33. Laura

    We saw several red headed agamas in Florida City by Aldi. One was huge!

  34. I’ve seen 2 here in the past week in Georgetown FL. Both orangish red head with darker body. One about 10 in, the other about 7. They are aggressive! Tried to get one out of my shed so I could close the door and it latched on to the broom. Placed it safely in the woods. The other ran around me collecting bugs as if I wasn’t there. So cool!!

  35. Ironically, I just took a pic of one on the back of another but that one had a partial reddish nose and white stripes on a black body. I think it’s obvious Male n Female. I’m trying to send the pic through but not sure how. The male looked about 10 in, Female not sure but looked as though she was missing full tail, guessing about 6 in. In Georgetown FL, South of Palatka.

  36. Jo

    One spotted yesterday in greenville, north Florida.

  37. CAROL

    SAW ONE ON MY PORCH . I LIVE WEST OF TURNPIKE ABOUT 4 MILES IN FT. PIERCE.

  38. Jason

    Another one that stowed itself in plants im sure, i see tons of them at sailfish point in stuart. With all the plants that come into the place its no wonder how they are all over stuart. They vary from All sizes, they are non social for sure and very quick. I have not seen any in sebastian, yet!

    • Pickel

      Jason they are at the Citgo in wabasso now

      • Cindy

        I’m not far from the Wabasso Citgo and I just saw one on my back patio. It was quick when I tried to get close.

  39. Ben Roden

    Just saw one in key largo

    • Wayne

      I bet the red anoleannals eat what the curly tailed lizards eat. I know curly eats chicken because I saw one eating off a chicken bone at a barbecue restaurant. I just watched in amazement. I think all types of animals lizards etc will eat meat if they get a taste IMO

  40. Debbie

    Saw a large male with the orange head and tail band, along with one female, in the Walgreens parking lot in Homestead, Florida yesterday.

    • Wayne james

      I can’t believe it they’re in Miami I’ve never seen one in broward.

  41. Kathryn

    Maybe the homestead one got a ride to Wells Fargo parking lot in Key Largo. Just saw him there. He was very striking and fast. We had to look him up on the internet finding this site. Noticed the curly tails in Ft Lauderdale 17 years ago and now they are at my doorstep in Key West. Hate to see this invasion taking out brown anoles but I remember when they started pushing out the lime green anoles we had in Key West when I was a child. They are very rare now.

  42. G Latshaw

    Saw two of these guys chasing anoles and curly tails , at a brewery in Punta Gorda….. I had never seen or heard of before.

  43. Alberto

    In have a huge population of these Redheads on my farm off SR76 in Stuart. Probably over 100 living on the 6 acre property. Several of the males are massive, like an Iguana, in size. Its hard to go 2 minutes without seeing one ( or several). On the good side, we have no roaches or palmetto bugs anymore!

    There does not seem to be a significant decrease in Curly Tails or other varieties of Lizards as we only had a small number of them, which are still there, prior to the Redhead invasion. The Redhead makes a very pretty decoration sitting on the walls sunning, or hanging on a building side. They are not friendly in any way, and they can run like mad, when scared.

  44. Sue

    I just saw a large male at hospital in Vero Beach with orange head and tail. I, also, have never seen one before and had to google to see what it was.

  45. Lee Barnes

    Saw one today in downtown Okeechobee. Looked remarkably like lizards I saw on the hotel grounds in the capital of Chad, in Africa. The Chad lizards may have been a bit larger, and their heads were MUCH redder. Two different species? The Chad lizards were also fearless — came to my chair looking for food.

  46. Tony

    Large population of them near River Palm Cottages and Fish Camp in Jensen Beach.

  47. Stephanie Lobo

    Just spotted one on Walt Disney World Property – Orlando, FL

  48. Lorene Caywood Wright

    I see one at Sandsprit park in Stuart fl, have been reading the comments and was surprised at just how many were around. This and the iguana over population is why exoctic animals li,e these should not be sold as pets, because there are too many dumb ass pet owners out there, like a pit bull owner being so stupid, and irresponsible and just plain being an idiot taking one to adog park where there are small dogs. Im so tired of hearing about how some idiot took thier dog to a dog park and it ended up attacking and hurting or killing a small dog. My friend has a female pitbull that to my amazment I have become fond of, she works a lot so I take Remy (pitbull) to the park on the corner of kanner and cove rd, BUT if there is another human or dog I turn around and go some where where there isnt anybody, 4 legged or two legged around. Cant people get it through their heads that if you own a pitbull there are specials rules because of thier nature. Remy is a sweet dog but Im not stupid enough to test that on someones small dog. I own a border collie and I wouldnt no more put the 2 of them together than I would turn her lose at Sandsprtit park, to many squrrels, people, and other dogs why take the chance, this is aimed at all you people who seem to be that STUPID, come on people get a brain cell.!!!

  49. Felix

    I seen one in Okeechobee fl

  50. Ron S

    A big one has been living at the end of our street for a couple of years now, south end of Oleander Ave. in River Park section of north Port St. Lucie – He crosses the street to travel back and forth between two large trees on either side of the street.

  51. Orville Story

    I have been watching a mating couple with offspring in Stuart FL daily. They pretty much stay in a 200 square a foot area which has a high amount of traffic.

  52. Ingrid SARMIENTO

    One big one loving at the Aldi parking lot of it chasmire in Port St Lucie.

  53. Cheryl

    I have an entire FAMILY of them living in the ceiling overhang of my front porch in White City, Florida.

  54. Donna

    We saw two large ones at a gas station here in Vero Beach a few minutes ago.

  55. BJ

    One spotted on Hutchison Island.4/10

  56. Bill Wallace

    I have a few living under my trucks and cars, parked in my driveway. Unfortunately I ran over the biggest one last month, and thought it was the last, but to my surprise another showed up along with a female, who is not as colorful as the male, nor as large. They like to sit and s–t on my tires, which is white in color [I don`t like white walls]
    They are not skidest, as my riding lawn mower seems to bring them out from under the cars. They just look at me and move away, as if to say ” leave us alone ” I find them very entertaining, except for the mess, but we all have to go sometime!
    PS I live in PSL FL near Westmoreland Dr

  57. been in florida awhile and never seen a population rise so quick, the brown anoles are getting theirs now just like they did to the the green anole population in the 80’s.

  58. jeorge Harrison

    Seen a bunch in Stuart and theres a Family living around my house. They are invasive and eat the brown enoles so you should probably kill them if you can. Its 2 down 1 more to go around my house.

    • Mike

      Any one have any ideas on how to catch them? They are just showing up on our property.

      • Rick Wallachr

        I use a long fishing rod or bamboo pole – the thinner the better – with a wire or fishing line noose I slip over its head and pull back to tighten. Works well for curly tails, basilisk, amievas, knight anoles and even small iguanas. We’ve got them all down hete.

  59. James OReilly

    I work at Lyngate Park in Port St Lucie Florida these guys are taking over eating everything in sight

  60. Ash and bryan

    Ive seen a few of these agamas at a 711 off u.s 41 in apollo beach…i want them!!

  61. Kathy

    Just saw one on US1 in Melbourne

  62. Nancy Semon

    I saw one today in downtown Punta Gorda.

  63. V

    There’s a pretty big colony of these at FPL plant on Hutchinson Island and it is pretty amazing how big they can get. There’s a male that’s at least 2’ (w/ tail)

  64. Wilgen D Corredor

    I see tens of dozens of these daily by my house in Palmetto Estates. Some are HUGE.

  65. Jenn Lass

    12/30/18 saw one of these lizards at Shell Station at US-1 and 53rd Ave in Vero Beach

  66. Danae Auger

    We have one that hangs out on the side of our house. Runs along the wall like it’s nothing. Super quick. Will try to set up a motion sensor camera to get a picture. Palm Bay, Fl

  67. Alicia

    Dozens of them live in my neighborhood. St. Lucie West, Port Saint Lucie

  68. J.M.Dunn

    3/17/19 went out side during com. of NASCAR had 12 to 15 ” long
    on side of house.Never saw 1 before been in Fla over 50 years .SW
    SW ST Lucie .orange head ,orange &black tail.

  69. e

    they’ve headed west.
    one on my lanai in Naples, FL. a male.
    first time ever on property.

  70. Jonathan

    4/10/19 – West Palm Beach.

    Observed a predation event- an approximately 12″ agama chasing down an adult brown anole. I also disrupted the event by getting close enough to send the agama running away. I have never seen any lizard move that quickly, and there is no doubt they are successfully preying on the anoles once they reach an adequate size. I am from Tampa, in WPB for a couple weeks, so this was a shocking sight. I have only once observed an agama in the Tampa area, about 6 years ago, and that was about a 6″ specimen.

    So, observational confirmation in case there was any doubt, the agamas aren’t just competing with the anoles by eating their food, the agamas are actually eating the anoles.

  71. Guillermo Bolger

    This guy is living in the bushes in front of the Taste Buds of India restaurant in Normandy Isle.

    • Jonathan Losos

      Normandy Isle is in Miami, for those who are wondering.

  72. Ann wittwer

    Somehow they found their way to the Florida Keys as well. I live in Islamorada and discovered a male on my property today. Pretty cool! ( I think )

    • Wayne James

      I’m at the point where I’m shocked that folks are shocked when they see these Anoles because theyre the norm not the Geico lizards

      • Richard Wallach

        Considering the Geico lizard is actually a pretty well-replicated Madagascan day gecko (genus Phelsuma), I’ve often wondered how it developed that kitschy Australian accent.

  73. Ken Jennings

    I’ve not yet seen these around my home or where we travel in Broward. We just now saw several in the parking lot of a Ruby Tuesday in Stuart near the turnpike. Big. Over 9 inches long.

    • Wayne James

      Broward doesn’t have the orange Anole just the brown curly tailed ones. They have decimated the gecko population

  74. Stephen

    Just today I spotted a red headed male in my oak tree in my yard. I am located near Palatka, in north east FL.

  75. Rick Wallach

    They have become fairly numerous in the area of the Falls shopping mall in east Kendall, on the south side of Miami. They occur in and around the malls, in the local neighborhoods, along the canals and in the Briar Bay golf course. You notice the males more easily, of course. The first time I saw a female on a local palm trunk I thought I was looking at Sceloporus, but then the male appeared from around the other side of the tree and chased her up into the fronds.
    They don’t seem to have impacted either the anole or the gecko population but I suspect our parthenogenic gecko species, at least, will merrily outbreed their depredations. The big tokays can handle these interlopers easily. The anoles have survived native birds, cats, Everglades racers, young yellow rat snakes and kingsnakes for generations. I suspect they’ll weather the agamid problem too.

    Incidentally, I saw what for me was a new hybrid on the ol’ anole chassis the other day: a grey dorsal background with black checker markings like any number of our Caribbean and central American species and hybrids, but with very bright green splotches between the black markings. Thought at first I was looking at an amieva (also numerous around here) but, no, definitely an anole. Very beautiful. Haven’t seen it again, unfortunately.

  76. Sol

    In cutler bay Fl

  77. Jack

    I live in Homestead and Agamas are all over the place. I see the big ones everytime I go near the driveway and now there’s some little guys out there too. They must be eating the regular anoles because we hardly see them around anymore.

    • Wayne James

      You used to walk down the side walk and dozens of the Geckos would run into the grass. Now they must be running into curly tails mouth

  78. Tom

    I just saw one of those big red headed lizards in my backyard climbing my wooden fence it was about 12 in long

  79. Teri

    They are all over my yard, Homestead. Their population has exploded and the native lizards are nearly gone.

  80. Rick Wallach

    I just spotted a medium sized male in the front yard of the house across the street from mine in east Kendall. I’ve seen them around the local shopping malls and parks but this is the first one I’ve spotted in my own neighborhood.

    As far as all this hysteria about the other area lizards “disappearing,” frankly, I haven’t noticed any change in the populations of either anoles or geckos here. In fact it looks like we’ve had a near-record hatch of anoles on and around my property, with tiny hatchlings darting all over the place. If anything, our native carolinensis seem to be staging a comeback; I’ve seen more of them this past year than at any time in decades.

    Look, the agamas may indeed be preying on the anolis population but since Adam and Eve so have egrets, jays, little herons, Everglades racers, ring-necked snakes, Cuban tree frogs, marine toads, cats and rodents . The anoles have managed to fluorish anyway. Aside from which, it’s been a few years since we’ve had a stiff freeze down here; let’s see how the redheads manage that when we finally have one.

    Frankly, I just don’t see the agamas – who are also perfectly happy with bugs – tipping the balance at all. I don’t even think an expanding population of leopard lizards would make all that much of a difference (only kidding). I’d be more concerned if some hitherto unreported bacterial or fungal infection began killing off our local insects. Anolis is a long way from endangered here, agamas notwithstanding. It’s fine to be concerned, but people really need to get a grip about this.

  81. Rolf

    I saw many of them in Homestead, and near Fairchild Botanical Garden.
    But never a blue one , only red and black. Are the blue specimens not in Florida??

    • Rick Wallach

      There are some blue ones around, Agama atra. It’s a different pecies from the most widespread orange-headed ones, the upper sub-sahara and tropical African Agama agama. Atra is from the southern part of this species’ range, from Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

      I’ve seen a few in the area of the Falls shopping center along with several of the orange headed ones. I also see the orange heads in my own neighborhood about a mile west of the shopping center but no blue ones in my immediate locale. They don’t seem to have much difficulty getting along and I would not be at all surprised if there are already some hybrids running around in the area. I note that these lizards much prefer to be either on the palm or other tree trunks or on sidewalks and parking lot pavement than in shrubs or on grass, which is consistent with their natural habitats of rocky ledges and gravel beds.

      The females of both species are indistinguishable unless you’ve got a very good key handy.

  82. R. Melillo

    Spotted one at PBIA premier parking lot today

  83. kevin johnson

    me and 4 friends seen this exact lizard today in winter park florida we were like wtf is that.

  84. James Williams

    I saw a male in Dino’s parking lot. Ft. Pierce, Fl. He was 10-12″ long

    • Rick Wallach

      About average for a full grown male. Females are smaller and easily mistaken for Sceloperus (or whatever our power-mad Linnaeans have decided to call them now – I’m too old to keep up).

  85. Ellie Jones

    There are tons of them in Labelle FL at the Zachery Reyna Park. Some are the sizes of Iguanas!

    • Rick Wallach

      Either your iguanas are very small, or your agamas are eating Alice’s cookie. Let’s try to keep these reports accurate, shall we?

  86. Nick

    If you want to see them, go to Waffle House on SR70 Ft Pierce by race trac at Jenkins rd. There must be 20 of them making a home colony there.

  87. Kim Thompson

    Went out walking today and saw a lizard I had never seen before, came home, googled, and found out it’s the lizard from this blog. Sighting on roadside, Big Pine Key, FL.

    • Rachel Thieman

      I bet I saw that same one on Big Pine this past Sunday. It was across from the entrance to Doctor’s Arm on a gate post. I had never seen one like that in the Keys. Had to look it up and found out it was the Red Headed Agama.

      • Rick Wallach

        They’re becoming pretty common in the Keys now. Expect to see more of them.

      • Wayne James

        Wow I’m confused the red heads are all over Martin and St Lucie County and now in the keys which makes sense but how did they end up in said 2 counties and not in Broward or Palm Beach counties?

        • Rick Wallach

          That’s a good question and I have no answer, except possibly that pet shops or owners released or lost them elsewhere in sufficient numbers to begin breeding to the north or south, or else they are indeed there but haven’t been reported yet. Either way, It’s only a matter of time.

  88. Wayne James

    They are here to stay. At least they are attractive unlike the curly tailed brown lizards in S. Fla. If the red ones ever migrate into palm beach down they will take over.

  89. Elaine

    Just spotted one in Vero Beach -N side of CVS on US #1

  90. Rick Wallach

    It’s been awhile but, for those interested, I’ve noted a decline in the number of red headed agama sightings down here in east Kendall, Florida, a southwestern suburb of Miami. Earlier in the year they were all over the place. I haven’t seen one in months, even before the weather cooled off a little. Anyone else have a similar experience with them?

  91. Richard Holbrook

    I just seen one of those red headed lizards in Sebastian Florida, it was about 6 to 8 inches long

  92. Rick Wallach

    As far as surviving the cold, these guys have no problem with the southern winter. In the wild they can be found right up into the mountains throughout their range, which is huge. The various subspecies of Agama agama are found coast-to-coast across north and central Africa (Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, the Cabo Verdes, Ghana, Chad, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Kenya and Madagascar). Ergo, this species is endlessly adaptable. I would guess, looking at the climate bands they inhabit, they could spread into the Carolinas and perhaps even coastal Virginia, George, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them turn up anyplace where a really hard winter is unusual. I also wouldn’t be shocked to see a few cold-hardy specimens survive winter in northern Texas, Arkansas or Missouri and breed a selected cold-hardy strain to hold their captured territory.
    Get used to ’em. Short of some specialized phage of some sort showing up, I don’t see how they can be extirpated anymore.

  93. Marc

    I just saw one in Aventura, Miami right near the mall

  94. Gina

    We have them all over the place. They are in Jensen Beach, Stuart and Port St Lucie. If you go to Rio, there are literally 100’s of lizards running the streets and you have to drive slow because they don’t move for the cars.

  95. Mark

    I operate a small wholesale Coconut farm in Stuart, Fl., and have watched this invasive species literally take over the farm in the last (2) years.

    At first, not knowing anything about them, I was intrigued by their colors and speed on the ground and in trees. Then I realized they were multiplying very rapidly, while other beneficial species of lizards were disappearing–most notably, my Chameleons. It didn’t take me long to figure out that the Agamas, as they increased in numbers, were targeting other species and were clearly establishing themselves as a dominant, invasive reptile.

    First, the Chameleons disappeared, followed by the Curly Tails and last, the Anoles. The Agamas don’t play fair; they target the younger, more vulnerable of the other species and easily win as they are larger, faster, and have a voracious appetite. The available bugs and worms were not enough to keep them fed. I’m convinced they will eat anything alive if it’s small enough to swallow and they can catch it.

    So, what to do. My Chameleons were very helpful for our younger Coconuts as they preyed on destructive bug larvae. The Curly Tails really didn’t contribute much but they mostly kept to themselves and caused no harm to others. The Anoles simply eat bugs and fight with each other, which is sometimes entertaining. The Agamas are impossible to stalk and physically catch. They also seem to have a keen sense of danger, even to the point of learning how to avoid humans trying to catch them. But they do have one weakness–as a dominant species they are arrogant enough in their own way to stare down a human from what they perceive as a safe distance. Enter the .22 caliber rifle.

    The .177 BB gun or pellet rifle is not enough to take down even an adolescent Agama lizard; it will only wound the animal which is not acceptable, even for an invasive species. A larger, heavier projectile is needed. A .177 caliber BB weighs in at around 5 grains; not enough kinetic energy, even at a higher fps, to penetrate the animal for an ethical kill. The .22 caliber ‘Calibre’ cartridge fit the bill perfectly. The projectile weighs in at 20 grains, so even at a low rate of feet per second, the impact energy is enough to seriously disable/kill even the large, adult male Agama. The Calibre cartridge is a “primer-fired” round, meaning it does not utilize a powder charge like a normal rifle cartridge. The round is very quiet–makes less noise than a pellet rifle. Calibre rounds come in a variety of loads, rated by the applicable FPS (feet per second) thresholds. Because of the heavier grain, travel distance of the projectile is very small and thus presents a very low threat in terms of lethal range. Simply put, it is the perfect round for close, precision eradication of the Agama lizard.

    My Anoles have returned to their usual frolicking games, chasing each other in between pushups. The Chameleons are making a slow come back; the Curly Tails seemed not to notice anything Jurassic-political, it’s business as usual with them. But the invasive, African Agamas have met their match with the apex predator in the form of the .22 caliber Calibre round.

    • Rick Wallach

      Chameleons? You mean olde worlde chameleons, like panthers or Jackson’s? You have them subsisting on your property?

      PS – down here in the Miami southern ‘burbs, the kestrels and other hawks seem to be doing a pretty good job of picking off the agamas and keeping them under control. I saw a what was either a Cooper’s or a sharp shinned hawk (it’s hard to tell them apart at any kind of distance if they don’t hold still) swoop down and carry off a big male agama from the CVS parking lot near my house. The lizard never knew what hit him. Ah, for that pineal eye….

      • Mark

        I figured it was only a matter of time until someone corrected me on the use of ‘Chameleon’. We grew up calling Green Anoles, “Chameleons”, for their distinct color-changing abilities. But they are somewhat distinct from the Brown Anoles in other ways, mostly because they are much slower when trying to elude predators. They are also much stealthier when it comes to stalking and catching flying insects. Very patient too, and will slowly turn their heads and look at you with an annoying eye if you come too close and interrupt their routines.

        It’s nice to know that birds of prey are targeting this exotic species. I didn’t think they had many natural predators due to their keen awareness and speed. Once dead, the fish in our irrigation ponds make quick work of them so the protein must be good for young birds as well. Plenty of muscle mass in these critters and probably a bellyful of Anoles at any given time too!

        • Rick Wallach

          Most of the discussions of the green anoles’ response to invasive competition and predation, at least down here in pandemic paradise, is that they simply move higher up into the canopies. As a child, even before the brown anoles were so common, I’d see the greens from the ground up, on the shrubs, the patios, the big ceramic or tile planters. Now I see them way up on the walls near the rain gutters, in among the foliage of my passionflower trellises, in my hanging staghorns or up in my white birds of paradise or cocoplums. The ground and low planters belong to the browns. Things have changed.

      • Mary

        Saw one today behind Lowe’s off woolbright rd in Boynton Beach , So they are in Palm Beach now, They are very pretty and fast!

  96. Stephen

    I saw an adult male with full coloring last summer on an old oak tree in my driveway. I live in between Gainesville and Saint Augustine, but only the one.

  97. Troy Simpson

    Looking at one in south St. Petersburg right now. Looks like a juvenile.

  98. Rick Wallach

    You sure it’s a juvenile and not a female? They’re quite a bit smaller than the males and resemble our native fence lizards (Sceloperous sp.) Juveniles are also dull colored, gray with some dark blotching on their sides. If it’s got the red crown and/or blue sidewalls, it’s just a young adult but no longer a juvenile.

  99. Mary

    Our shop is in Cocoa on US1 ……. The Red-Headed Agamas are everywhere on our property and have been for over 5 yrs. In the beginning we just saw one every now and then but now you don’t have to even look for them….. they love basking on the hot pavement

  100. Stephen

    Once again, I have spotted a solitary male, as far as I can tell, in my oak trees. Could be a ride along from the south, unsure but I am in Putnam county.

  101. Joey

    Hi ALL…. I’ve grown up my entire life loving reptiles amphibians and all of the above lol oh, I’m Florida native born and raised but lived out west for many years also so enjoyed much of the same now the parts of the country. While we’re on the subject of the over-running species in the state of Florida. I was driving back from Boca Raton the other day stopped at the rest stop between mile marker 220 and Daytona Beach Northbound rest stop in Brevard County. Have found at least five or six lizard species not indigenous to the area including the red headed to Africa and the curly tails. I managed to catch three of them look them over some of them are quite large I did notice I never saw one Florida anole in the area but many Cubans which are smaller but those things are out of control too. The workers there said they’ve been in the area for about 5 years. What really surprises me is that they’re able to survive these cold Winters now, not that hard since they’ve learned how to Tunnel underneath the buildings and sidewalks so they’re staying warm there apparently during the winter they’re marching their way North it’s out of control. I figured the same thing the workers did they come in on the south Florida trucks the semi trucks and other Automobiles and then they jump off there after hitchhiking the way up with an automobile ride. Just wanted to share the info if anybody gets a chance stop at that rest stop you will freak out when you see how many different lizards a different species that are camping out in living. Hope all everybody is well during this covid-19 stay safe

  102. Joe

    Witnessed one of these African Red Heads attack and eat one of our native Anole lizards. I have just noticed I have not seen any native lizards lately, the ones we call chameleons. I think it is the end of our native little lizards.

  103. Gregg L. Friedman MD

    There are a lot of African redhead agamas running around Fairchild Tropical Gardens. I wonder if they are displacing the South Florida Green Anoles? By Gregg L. Friedman MD

    • Rick Wallach

      I doubt it. You’ll spot the green anoles higher up in the bushes and trees; the brown anoles have long since driven them up there. Actually, I saw a female green anole on one of those wooden picnic tables out front of the snack shop there this past summer. She made it from the table to the snack shop wall in one majestic leap and was gone under the eave in seconds. That was one quick little anole. I suspect some mail will land LoLo Jones before any male green catches up with her.

    • Wayne James

      It seems to be the case. I have only seen a few in Broward County, but once they get their numbers up the others will be in big trouble.

  104. Edward Haste

    Round up these and many of the other invasive reptiles and sell them wholesale to us folks up north!

    • Rick Wallach

      We’re having a hard cold spell down here this weekend, so I may go out collecting stunned green iguanas. How many do you want?

  105. Lois

    I saw my first of these here on the west coast in Fort Myers, Florida today. They are huge!

  106. Kathy

    They are definitely in Palm City! But how can you trap them? I would love to know a humane way to bait a trap…and then dispatch them. In my neighborhood …there are clusters where they ar every thick! Suggestions?

  107. Rick Wallach

    I wouldn’t get too worried. We’ve got the agamas, as well as curlytails, basilisks and some decent sized amievas on our property but we’re still flush with brown, crested, green and bark anoles. They’re pretty resilient and adapt to threats. Frankly, the occasional Everglades racers in our yard seem like the more formidable predators, and both cats and birds – jays, and egrets, especially – probably take a bigger toll, as they always have. The agamas won’t be fun, but they don’t measurably alter the balance – and they, in turn, are also prey for the cats, racers, kingsnakes and from what I’ve seen, especially the birds. I wrote recently here someplace I saw a sharp-shinned hawk pick a big male agama off the parking lot at my local CVS last summer. One of our cats brought in a chewed-up small female agama not all that long ago, too. So you see, it all evens out, or close to it, in the end.

  108. Carla Bronson

    I’ve seen one in Naples, FL.

  109. cynlis90

    im port saint lucie, they are everywhere, and now they have managed to get into my soffit and roof! my much adored anole population is nearly wiped out. i now chase the little anoles into my screened patio to keep them safe. i have had exterminators and rat trappers out to my home to inspect the roof and soffit and no one can figure how they are getting in.

    • Gianna Coppola

      Oh no! I hope your anoles can stay safe. what species live near you?

  110. Lynne

    Do they eat house geckos? If so, please drop off a breeding pair at my house. Those geckos made a hideous mess of my shed a couple of years ago by the time we found where they were getting in and plugged the hole. And they are always trying to get into the house. Such a nuisance.
    I’m in PBG and have never seen an agama. I did once see a basilisk, a few native green anoles and plenty of curly tails. And the iguanas have made it into my area recently, up from WPB.

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