ExploreReptiles

Northern Curly-tailed Lizard

Leiocephalus carinatus

The Northern Curly-tailed Lizard is a small, colorful lizard that loves to bask in the sun. It has a curly tail that helps it balance and look extra cute!

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Northern Curly-tailed Lizard has a long, strikingly curled tail that spirals upwards. Its body is typically brown or gray with dark crossbands, and males often display iridescent blue or green on their heads and throats, making them distinctive from other local lizards.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataFamilyLeiocephalidaeGenusLeiocephalus
Northern Curly-tailed Lizard
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Northern Curly-tailed Lizard

Category

Reptiles

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Males do push-ups to show off and defend territory.

Their tails often spiral like a corkscrew!

These lizards are not native to Florida, they were introduced!

They can sometimes drop their tails to escape danger.

Special abilities

Ability

Tail Signal

Northern Curly-tailed Lizard can curl its tail high because this unique posture helps them communicate their presence and territorial claims to rivals.

Ability

Sun-Powered Dash

Northern Curly-tailed Lizard can warm up fast because their dark scales quickly absorb sunlight, giving them energy for hunting and escaping.

Ability

Quick Getaway

Northern Curly-tailed Lizard can run incredibly fast because long, powerful hind legs provide bursts of speed to evade predators swiftly.

Measurements & details

Length
18-30 cm
Weight
0.02-0.05 kg
Lifespan
3-6 years
Top Speed
25 km/h
Clutch Size
2-6
Incubation
60-90 days

Diet & Feeding

These lizards are opportunistic eaters, munching on a variety of insects and sometimes even small plants!

Primary Foods

  • crickets
  • grasshoppers
  • beetles
  • spiders
  • small fruits
  • flowers

Foraging Method

  • Ambush

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch from a distance and don't try to catch them; they are best left in the wild.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Northern Curly-tailed Lizard?

18-30 cm

How much does Northern Curly-tailed Lizard weigh?

0.02-0.05 kg

How long does Northern Curly-tailed Lizard live?

3-6 years

How fast can Northern Curly-tailed Lizard move?

25 km/h

What does Northern Curly-tailed Lizard eat?

These lizards are opportunistic eaters, munching on a variety of insects and sometimes even small plants!

Where is Northern Curly-tailed Lizard usually found?

Coastal areas

How does Northern Curly-tailed Lizard hunt?

Ambush

How many eggs does Northern Curly-tailed Lizard lay?

2-6

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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