Monitor Lizards On STX!

I think this is a case of mistaken identity.

I've seen those. Seem exclusive to the hills around Princess area. I think they only get about 8 - 10 inches long. From Puerto Rico I was told...

You need to report the sighting to Fish and Wildlife or call Bethany Bradford at the Ag. Dept. 778-8098 x241

I just called them yesterday about someone in STT selling a highly venomous bushmaster snake on Craig's List.

STX has issues now with pythons so report sightings of non indigenous species when you see them

OT, I sure hope you are right!
@ Sky - thanks. If the others are only 8-10" not too creepy, but they sure resemble a sand monitor!
One was BLUE !!!!! They others were fighting it & tossing it from their borrows.
It was different from the others & looked like a blue tailed monitor - ewe!

I believe this is the lizard you are talking about:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_ameiva

They've been in Princess/Orange Grove for the last few years, don't seem to have moved outwards of the area. I've heard that they came in with a shipment of plants from S. America delivered to the now-closed plant nursery in Princess.

Report the sighting. They are not indigenous.

Dr. William Coles of DPNR would be the person to contact.

They are probably Puerto Rican Ground Lizards. There was a team here on island studying their habitat in recent years. There are a few small colonies around the LaGrande Princesse area.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameiva_exsul

If you are really interested PM me and I can probably put you in contact with the folks who did the study.

You need to report the sighting to Fish and Wildlife or call Bethany Bradford at the Ag. Dept. 778-8098 x241

You need to report the sighting to Fish and Wildlife or call Bethany Bradford at the Ag. Dept. 778-8098 x241

This is not a concern to Ag / Bethany.
It is the turf of DPNR.

They've been here for years, we all know about them in that area, and they aren't going to go away. Might as well report Finch sightings also.

LOL, CruzanIron I get your point. I'll call off the hounds as it sounds like they are homesteaded here. Thanks for your & everyone's help......can sleep easier now!

The blue one was completely different, it really really really looked like the blue-spotted tree monitor.(not to be confused with the monster I previously thought).
It was a beautiful robin egg blue & had a ridge on his head that went down his back & black spots, I really wanted to get a picture of it.

I like lizards as long as they can't eat me...........hahahaha

That's where your wrong Beeski. The Dept. of Agriculture and Fish and Wildlife have authority in these matters.

I just spoke with Dr. Bradford yesterday about a different matter.
We touched on the invasive pythons on STX. She's your best best bet, seriously. If you go to DPNR, you may not have things taken care of especially if they are anything like the STT branch so don't hold your breath.

The blue one was completely different, it really really really looked like the blue-spotted tree monitor.(not to be confused with the monster I previously thought).

The big blue ones were common in the area of STT where I used to live and I've seen a few of them higher up the mountain where I live now. They're very dashing in comparison to their less vibrantly colored relatives. And by the way both they and the small lizzies eat meat and LOVE canned cat food - nip in right underneath the cats' noses to grab pieces, scurry off and devour with gusto!

Thanks OT!

Last time I lived on STX, it was 6 yrs ago & waaaaaaaaaay out east, we rarely even saw an iguana. So this was a new discovery.

Everyone thanks again.

Should this be reported to the proper authorities?

Yes. If it is indeed a non indigenous species it should be reported even if it's an innocuous lizard.
Let them figure it out. At least, notify them.

Spartygrad, it seems the authorities already know since they have been here & done a study. After further reading info given on this thread, I'm sure what I saw was the PR ground monitor. An article I read even said they could be a brilliant blue. I have a BIG dog, so if they won't hurt her if she chases it, I'm cool with them.

I am in La Grande Princesse / Rattan . We have seen quite a few of the PR ground lizards around our property . We also were told they came to St. Croix in a shipment of plants to a nursery on Rattan Rd.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameiva_exsul

Are you sure it's been reported previously and a study done?

Are you sure it's been reported previously and a study done?

http://mltconsecol.github.io/Treglia%20et%20al%202013_Carib%20J%20Sci_Ameiva%20exsul.pdf

Not new to STT/STJ and the BVI they were first seen on STX in 2006.

We live in the same area and have a gazillion of them. They are PR ground lizards as someone said. The only problem they cause is when they burrow between the bricks on the patio otherwise they're fine.

Gee guys, there lots of different types of ground lizards.
Makes sure you can define species. If unsure, call it in.

I just called in to report a Craig's List posting for selling a highly venomous bush master snake on St. Thomas yesterday.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9133709

This does not belong here:
https://virgin.craigslist.org/pet/5063739095.html

Gee guys, there lots of different types of ground lizards.
Makes sure you can define species. If unsure, call it in.

I just called in to report a Craig's List posting for selling a highly venomous bush master snake on St. Thomas yesterday.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9133709

This does not belong here:
https://virgin.craigslist.org/pet/5063739095.html

LOL.. It's a scam.This snake is NOT on STT.