Northern Curly-tailed Lizard
Leiocephalus carinatus
Silhouette: Caleb M. Gordon · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyLeiocephalidae (Curly-tailed Lizards)
- GenusLeiocephalus (Curly-tailed Lizards)
- SpeciesLeiocephalus carinatus (Northern Curly-tailed Lizard)
About the Northern Curly-tailed Lizard
Leiocephalus carinatus, commonly known as the northern curly-tailed lizard or saw-scaled curlytail, is a species of lizard in the family Leiocephalidae (curly-tailed lizard). It is native to the Bahama Islands, the Cayman Islands and Cuba. It was introduced intentionally in Palm Beach, Florida, in the 1940s in an attempt to control sugar cane pests, and is now also present in a few other parts of the state. Another introduced population inhabits Swan Islands, Honduras.
Adults may attain a snout to vent length (SVL) of 10.5 cm (4.1 in), or a total length, including the tail, of 26 cm (10 in). The dorsal scales are keeled and pointed. L. carinatus resembles lizards of the genus Sceloporus, but with the tail usually curled upward, especially when the lizard is in a horizontal position on rocks or on the ground.
An active, robust lizard, it is mostly terrestrial and will retreat into a burrow or cavity when frightened. It prefers sunny areas with loose rubble and rock. In the Cayman Islands a large captured specimen was observed to consistently burrow completely under the sand in a holding tank, even though a rock retreat was provided... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Northern Curly-tailed Lizard in Big Cypress National Preserve
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ciénaga de Zapata | 🇨🇺 Cuba | |
| 2 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Northern Curly-tailed Lizard in Big Cypress National Preserve?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Curly-tailed Lizard sighting in Big Cypress National Preserve, based on 113 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Northern Curly-tailed Lizard in Big Cypress National Preserve?
September has the highest sighting rate for Northern Curly-tailed Lizard in Big Cypress National Preserve in our monthly data.