My name is Bonnie, and I work in the Lizard Lab as a research technician. In my job, I feed the lizards we keep in the lab, use a microscope to measure cells in the muscles of our lizards, and work with college students on their own projects in the lab. I love my job because I get to work with beautiful and interesting animals while learning lots of things about lizards and about science.
One of my favorite species of lizards lives in the Bahamas and has the nickname “curly-tail” because it sends messages to other lizards by curling up its tail into a tight spiral (see the picture above). These lizards use their tail just like the green anoles Michele described in her earlier post use their dewlap. Curly-tail lizards not only have a unique way of communicating, but they also have an interesting diet: they eat flowers that grow on the beach! While Michele, Chris (a student in the lab) and I were studying curly-tails this summer on a small island in the Bahamas called Crooked Island, we saw these lizards eating morning glory flowers and running around the beach with the flowers in their mouths (see pictures below)! Even though curly-tails also eat insects like most other lizards, it was exciting to learn that these lizards eat something unexpected.
Why do you think curly-tail lizards eat both plants and insects, instead of eating only insects like most of the lizards we see here in Texas? Have you ever seen a lizard or any other animal doing something that surprised you? Let me know what you think about these cool lizards in the comment box below. I’d love to hear about your own interesting lizard observations!
Kate Orchard
Apr 23, 2015 -
Some of our adult ground lizards (Ameivas) settle their disagreements by going up on their hind legs to chase each other – they really look like dinosaurs
Jason
Nov 20, 2015 -
Whenever I hang out on my porch in S. Florida a big curly tail comes and sits right by me on the table. Lately I will give him small pieces of kiwi which he now takes right from my hand. He pretty much runs the whole patio…3 apartments wide. Once he gets his treat he either hangs out and stares at me or runs back to his “house”.
B
Jan 14, 2022 -
I have one that knows me and we eat cracker jacks. I thought it was only me. They do need to trust first though. We are the lizard whisperers
Tim Scott
Jan 12, 2017 -
I’ve seen these curly tails at the Cape Canaveral library Florida. I’m use to the anole lizards so I was really blown by their tails. I’ve heard that they may have gotten there by the cruise ships that cruise to the Bahamas.
Holly
Nov 29, 2017 -
Cool! I found this picture of a Greater Earless Lizard, which sort of reminded me of it since it also curls its tail. https://sparkyphotos.photoshelter.com/image/I0000shn_tUMq6yo
Cyndi
Dec 3, 2017 -
We have snow weed in our backyard. Certain times of the year when it’s in bloom the curly tails eat them up. We have at least 4 in our backyard.
Cyndi
Dec 3, 2017 -
Oh, BTW we live in South Florida.
Marion
Jun 16, 2019 -
My Curly-Tails know that my patio is a welcome home. I’m very curious about their senses. If I sing…they stop and look in my direction. They don’t move until I stop singing. If I water plants…they are not afraid. They maintain their “chilling out” spot, while I go about my business, while avoiding disturbing them. They are very intelligent! I consider them tenants…along with a Screech Owl and a family of Green Anoles. 🙂
ADRIAN
Sep 2, 2019 -
Very cute little curly tailed lizard who seems very friendly lives in my front yard. I am going to try and feed him with some raspberries & hopes he likes them….
Terri Carter
Nov 19, 2019 -
I live in central Texas and have a family of pink lizards the live around my house and fro t porch. While taking my dogs out dor the last time before bed, I found a lizard cold stunned on the cement porch. I brought him in and put him in a newspaper lined box (large) with a blanket wrapped heating pad under it. It will be in the 70’s tomorrow and plan on releasing him. Is this the correct thing to do?
mjadmin
Nov 19, 2019 -
Hi Terri, Those are probably the invasive Mediterranean house gecko. Sounds like what you did was just fine! Lucky little lizard.
Cindy
Mar 16, 2020 -
I have a curly tail that comes in my garage and loves to eat ground chuck or any raw beef. I’ve named him chuck . But I don’t understand why he disappears for 2 or 3 mouths at a time and then comes back ? Thinking maybe it’s a female and went to lay her eggs ??
Kristine Palmiere
Jul 7, 2020 -
This is great I enjoyed reading everyone’s experience with this cute lizard. I live in lantana, Florida. Started to feeding a curly tail some egg whites. Now he waits for me every morning. Even climbs the palm trees to look and watch in the windows. So funny
Catherine
Aug 25, 2020 -
I live in South Florida and I have a whole family of them living under my stoop! They are the coolest little lizards I have ever seen! The babies just started coming out about a month ago and they are so tiny and cute! But there is one thing I am wondering about, I saw an adult lizard carrying a baby in its mouth. Was it trying to kill it? Or was it a mama carrying her baby around?
mjadmin
Aug 25, 2020 -
These lizards don’t provide any care for their offspring – when the babies hatch, they have to fend for themselves. If an adult has a juvenile in its mouth, it’s probably going to eat it.
Latosha
Mar 27, 2021 -
Good day I live in North Miami Beach Florida all of a sudden I see all these curly tail lizards I don’t like them they’re big and look very disgusting they look dangerous I don’t know but I know I watch for myself and see them digging holes they can dig big holes and crawl in them.
Where the small curly tail dinosaur lizards come from all of a sudden you don’t really see the regular lizards anymore
mjadmin
Mar 28, 2021 -
Hi Latosha, Curly tail lizards aren’t dangerous or disgusting, but they are invasive in Florida, originally coming from the Bahamas and Cuba. The females dig holes to lay their eggs. Because these lizards are larger than anoles, in particular, they often eat anoles. So, where curly tails are common the anoles often change where they live to avoid them.
Latosha
Mar 27, 2021 -
Good day anyway Miss Bonnie good luck on your research of these lizards continue doing your research and may God bless you that’s what you love continue enjoy
Joseph
May 10, 2021 -
Maybe morning glories because they found out they can have fun with some Lysergic acid and run around the beach j/k
Maybe for some H20 in the flowers.
Amy
May 25, 2021 -
My curly tails here in Fort Lauderdale, FL love cheese. Especially yellow cheddar. I feed them when they come up to me on my back patio for the last 12 years. I saw one eat a bumble bee right in front of me. They understand my voice. I think. They are awesome!
Katie
Jul 17, 2021 -
I accidently brought one up to my balcony in a flower pot and have been feeding her for months and now she has 4 babies. what do I do? I don’t want these lizards reproducing on my balcony because we are too high for them to climb down
Erica
Jan 14, 2022 -
I’m in south Florida too and we have three that live in my courtyard! They have a little lizard lounge paradise here. They definately recognize me – and they do look in the windows to see what I’m doing! We love them!
Ellen B Bass
Mar 11, 2022 -
I have one that I became friends with she comes running to me when she sees me and I sit down on the steps I tap on the ground and she comes closer to me she waits for me to feed her something have to say she eats most anything I give her. My family thinks I’m crazy talking to a lizard…but I think she’s cool and the babies now started to follow her over to me now too … the little things that make us happy 🙂
Kelly
Mar 23, 2022 -
My curly tail loves small pieces of cooked chicken breasts. He looks for me each morning through my glass sliding door. He likes sunning on my patio. Curly tails are originally from the Bahamas and are well established in South Florida after being intentionally released into sugar cane fields to control insects.
OldBill
May 2, 2022 -
They have been in Miami for decades , we used to see them by a rock quarry we used to go looking for snakes in early 70s so who knows how long before that they were there .
Same thing as Knight anole where you had lots green tall foliage but it was after the 80s housing boom , Miami began to do away with nature did people begin to notice them.
Bobbie Riales
May 28, 2022 -
I am in Tucson Arizona. I believe I saw a curly tailed lizard in the rocky area behind my chiropractor’s office. It is quiet back there with no street traffic. Do you think someone brought one in as a pet and it got loose? I was looking at it really closely because it curled its tail and ran a short distance. I followed to make sure it wasn’t a scorpion. But it was a lizard that kept curling and uncurling its tail.
Maria
Oct 26, 2022 -
Hi. I am in Miami, We have a curly tailed lizard, we start to feed her/him almost 3 years ago when was a little baby. Is my girls friends and even eat for our hand and allowed us to touch him. But four days ago we were moving thing from the backyard to the donation car and when we were loading the car Liam the lizard fall in the front yard of my house. He was hiding inside of some of the furniture to donate. He run scarily and get hidden . My question is if he can go back to my backyard by himself? Please help with this information and I apologize for my English .
mjadmin
Oct 26, 2022 -
Hi Maria – I expect Liam will find its way back to your backyard just fine. Lizards are fairly good at “homing,” and quite adept at climbing on or around fences, trees, and such. I hope you see him again soon!
Maria
Oct 26, 2022 -
Thank you ! The distance between my backyard and my frontward is about 60 o 70 feet. I hope he find the way back home soon, I have two sad girls waiting for him.