Aruba Lizards

Very common around the island, including on the grounds & swimming pool areas of the resorts & hotels.

Both sexes have the brilliant aqua spots, but females have a brown background color.

Male and female together

This youngster found a nice place to sunbathe.

Very common around the island, including on the grounds & swimming pool areas of the resorts & hotels.

It probably derives its scientific name from the touch of two colors on the nose.

Endemic to Aruba and Curacao

Color of Green Iguanas is actually variable from green to brown to gray to even reddish-orange. Males have longer and thicker dorsal spines than females.

Green Iguanas spent most nights in treetops.

Since they're mostly vegetarian, I wasn't worried about my toes :-)

Green Iguana with an Aruban Whiptail.

At least in Aruba, the smaller iguanas were much brighter green.

This one, however, spent each day at the "over 21" pool...

Long toes with sharp claws allow for easy tree-climbing. Iguanas are very good swimmers, too, but they swim using their strong tails; they don't use their legs or feet for swimming.

Iguanas are vegetarians and enjoy a variety of leaves, including lettuce from kids!

Harmless to humans, these snakes feed mostly on small lizards and other small animals.

Although venemous, these attractive snakes are important members of the Aruba ecosystem. They are protected by law and are critically endangered due to very low population numbers. Some authorities classify them as their own species, Crotalus unicolor.

These beautiful and often gentle snakes were introduced to the island of Aruba a few decades ago and unfortunately have thrived there, causing a serious decline in native fauna, particularly lizards and small mammals. They are not venomous and are not dangerous to humans.

Boas blend in well with twisting vines and other stems.

Yours truly finds and captures a Boa with the help of our guide, Rolly!