Mexican Lizard ID?

[kellygirl]

I found this guy in Jardin Botanico (Botanical Garden) near Puerto Morelos, a coastal city in the state of Quintana Roo on the Caribbean in the Yucatan Peninsula. I wasn't able to get too close but he looked very colorful and was probably out to get some action, as he was bobbing his head a bit. I would say he was about a foot long, including tail, but I have no idea if he was full grown.

-Kelly

 

[Mushroom Spore]

That picture is really dark, but the shape of the head and the location makes me think this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basiliscus_plumifrons

 

[kellygirl]

Aha! I do remember thinking it reminded me of a basilisk but it didn't look quite like any species I had seen... I just did a quick search and this is very close to what it looked like:

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_vittatus.html

Even a very similar pose to the one I found... so probably a Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus)? ... though it wasn't very brown at all. Beautiful yellow striping.

-Kelly