Another invasive species in Florida: a red-headed lizard with an appetite for butterflies

The Peter’s rock agama, a lizard native to East Africa, is being spotted more often in urbanized areas in Florida. It loves insects, posing a threat to local endangered butterflies.

When scientists at the University of Florida noticed a recent increase in sightings of a flashy redheaded lizard, they knew it was time to ask the public for help in fighting yet another invader.

A surge of emails to the university’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension from people all over South Florida asking for identification of the reptile was a sign that the Peter’s rock agama lizard, an invasive species from Africa, was multiplying and its range appeared to be expanding, with observation reports from as far south as Big Pine Key.

A big problem is that they love insects, including butterflies. That may spell trouble for South Florida’s endangered butterfly species, including some that live in developed areas where the exotic lizard prefers to hang out.

“At this point we don’t see the agama as a huge threat to local wildlife like the Burmese python or the tegu, but we know that the populations are growing in South Florida, and we know they eat insects and other invertebrates,” said Steven Johnson, a UF/IFAS associate professor of wildlife and ecology who just co-authored a new report and fact sheet on the species. “We want to involve citizen scientists to help us understand more about this lizard.”

The Agama picticauda lizards are colorful — especially when they are breeding — and can grow to about a foot. In Florida, adult males have bold orange or red heads, a black or dark gray body, and a tail that often has an orange stripe and black tip.

Scientists are just starting to map out their distribution, but it appears that agamas tend to prefer urbanized areas rather than the Everglades, though they have been spotted surrounding the national park. South Florida residents have probably seen at least one of these colorful lizards perched on a light post or strolling around a parking

Courtesy of Steven Johnson/UF/IFAS The invasive Peter’s rock agama lizard appears to be spreading in South Florida and could threaten local species as it feeds on insects rather than just plants.