Let’s Go Lizard Hunting

Lizard hunting is a childhood rite of passage for Florida kids. You either learn to catch the lizards, or you get chased by somebody who’s caught one. We most often find Anole lizards and skinks, and one time we found a glass lizard, which is a really big lizard that looks like a snake!

Hunting for a Skink

We almost caught a big skink yesterday, but in the end he got away. My son gets to keep whatever we catch for one day before being released.

Lizards You’ll Find in Atlantic Beach, FL

Skinks

Skinks are fascinating creatures that belong to the lizard family Scincidae, known for their sleek bodies, shiny scales, and agile snake-like movements. These lizards are commonly found in various habitats, from forests and grasslands to urban gardens and parks. The juvenile skinks have bright blue tails.

Skinks are primarily ground-dwellers but are also skilled climbers, using their strong limbs and claws to navigate trees and shrubs. They are opportunistic feeders, consuming a diet primarily consisting of insects, spiders, and small invertebrates.

Anole Lizards

Anole lizards, scientifically known as Anolis, are a diverse group of reptiles found primarily in the Americas, including North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean islands. These lizards are known for their ability to change color, ranging from vibrant greens and browns to darker hues, depending on their mood, temperature, or environment.

Anoles are typically arboreal, meaning they spend much of their time in trees and shrubs, where they hunt for insects and small invertebrates. They are agile climbers, using their strong limbs and specialized toe pads to grip onto surfaces.

Anole lizards are also known for their territorial behaviors and impressive displays during courtship or confrontations with rivals. You can easily spot their red throat puffing in and out!

Glass Lizards

Glass lizards, also known as glass snakes or legless lizards, belong to the Anguidae family and are named for their fragile, glass-like appearance. Despite their name, glass lizards are not true snakes but rather closely related to lizards, possessing eyelids and external ear openings.

One of their distinctive features is their long, slender bodies that lack limbs, giving them a snake-like appearance. However, they can be distinguished from snakes by their movable eyelids and the presence of a tail that can break off as a defense mechanism, unlike snakes’ fused tail scales.

Glass lizards are primarily found in dry, sandy habitats across North America, Europe, and Asia. They are carnivorous and feed on insects, small vertebrates, and eggs.

Geckos

Florida is home to several species of geckos, including the Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) and the House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus). One of the most common geckos in Florida is the Mediterranean Gecko, which is native to southern Europe but has established populations in the state.

These geckos are nocturnal and are often seen near buildings, lights, and other human structures where they hunt insects attracted to the light. They have a unique appearance with flattened bodies, large eyes, and adhesive toe pads that allow them to climb walls and ceilings with ease.

The House Gecko, also known as the Pacific House Gecko, is another common species in Florida and is known for its ability to thrive in urban environments. We often spot these on the outside wall of our home in the evening.

There are many other types of lizards in Atlantic Beach, but one you won’t spot this far north in Florida (at least not yet) is the iguana, which is getting more and more common down south. It’s a little too cold up here for the iguanas, which slow down around 50 degrees and will actually freeze and fall out of trees when it hits the 30s and 40s.