Reader Karen Bartelt proclaims it “Reptile Day!”, and so it is. Her photos and captions:
Madagascar Gold Dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda). Introduced to Hawaii; picture taken on the Big Island:
Green iguana (Iguana iguana), breeding plumage. Near John Pennecamp State Park, Florida. Another introduced species:
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Everglades National Park:
Northern caiman lizard (Dracena guainensis). Peruvian Amazon:
It almost seems odd to have pictures of animals where you can actually see them.
Nice photos!
Very nice photos and interesting Gecko. Never saw one like that in Hawaii so maybe a more recent introduction. They make for good house pets as well.
I’ve seen them in several places on the Big I, but was just on Kauai and didn’t see any. Extremely cute.
I did not know that the gecko or the iquana are now introduced to these other areas. I am not sure what negative impact these may have, but I would be thrilled to see them even so.
Yes, and I would guess that Hawaii is extremely careful about introduction considering some of the past history there. I know they always had the toughest Agriculture/customs import agency in the states.
It seems the geckos are escapees from the pet trade, which is not surprising. They also get pretty big, they can bite pretty hard, and they are a concern for the native bird populations. This is also not surprising.
not good. The geckos I remember and lived with in Hawaii were very good. They love to eat termites too.
The iguana population in Florida is also a result of escapees from the pet trade. The population first became established in the Miami area and then started moving north over a period of years. They had just started to be seen on occasion in the Treasure Coast area, 140 miles(225 km) north of Miami, when a series of unusually cold & long lasting cold spells one winter a few years ago knocked the population back hard. Legend has it that so many were dropping dead out of trees that they became a hazard.
Another interesting escapee in the Miami area is parrots. They are doing fairly well. It is common to see large groups of them. Story has it that when hurricane Andrew (category 5, 175 mph winds offical, some evidence of 200 mph) pounded Miami in 1992 the Miami Metrozoo’s aviary was destroyed and parrot survivors of that incident were the seed population for the current wild population. I don’t know how accurate that story is, though.
When we were on the Big I, the big issue was Kokii (sp?) frogs. They were all over the Hilo side, to the extent of some hotels including earplugs along with shower caps and shampoo. On the Kona side, people were very aware, reporting any kokii noise. I suppose then a game warden came out with a trap or big flyswatter or…?
“Coqui”, I believe.
Take a look here: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/coqui/background.asp
Plumage on the iguana?! Otherwise lovely photos.
I ran across the term on some S Florida wildlife website. Since birds are just modified dinosaurs, and feathers just modified scales, maybe “plumage” isn’t such a stretch!
A nice selection for us herpetological types – thanks!
Love them Lizards, and crock-a-dilly types too.
I saw lots of those cute geckos on Big Island! I would love to live there – me and the geckos!
These are all great…who doesn’t love lovely reptiles.