Illegal stowaway lizard - any ideas?

[Nightmare]

I’ve acquired a random teeny lizard that stowed away in a friends bag when she came home from holiday in Mexico.

It’s very small and very fast and I’m super impressed it survived the trip back in the hold.

I *think* it’s a baby brown anole, but not definite Originally suspected a fence lizard of some sort cos there’s millions of em in Mexico but less convinced now. It’s important to work it out cos particularly humidity levels for them are very different. Anyone got any thoughts?





Anyone, she’s apparently called Imogen and I’m really hoping she survives. Seems pretty feisty currently

[Silvanus]

I'd suggest contacting Amphibian and Reptile conservation.

https://www.arc-trust.org/stowaways#:~:text=If%20y...

[Nightmare]

Thanks, but they’re not sure either and I’m one of their rescue homes . Thought I’d stick on here as there are some people who are excellent at id’ing things

[WelshRich]

Not a clue about the species but…

If the concern is the humidity levels, do you know where in Mexico your friend was staying? Presumably, if you’re able to match the conditions of the area it came from, you stand a fighting chance regardless of a positive ID…

[Evanivitch]

Google Lens says Anolis cristatellus. I've no idea if that's a valid suggestion ...

[WelshRich]

Just to add, what are the chances that a lizard stows away in a persons bag in the first place, manages to survive the journey back, and it then turns out that the bag it stowed away in belongs to someone who is already friends with a reptile rescuer!

[Nightmare]

WelshRich said:

Not a clue about the species but…

If the concern is the humidity levels, do you know where in Mexico your friend was staying? Presumably, if you’re able to match the conditions of the area it came from, you stand a fighting chance regardless of a positive ID…

Yeah this was first port of call - it was Tulum which is helpfully a small sandy area, on the coast surrounded by quite lush forest - so a good mix of options. Also there are a ridiculous number of options there….130 odd species of fence lizard alone

One of the other people who rescues went one better and ended up with a whiptail lizard from someone coming back from the Bahamas - except they don’t come from there and in fact came from their 3rd holiday stop of 5 on a 4 week trip!

Thanks v much @evanivitch. I tried lens and didn’t get a result. This is why I like trying here cos there’s people who just seem better at using the internet

I’m getting more sure it’s an anole too and that helps confirm it so going for a setup leaning towards them. She seems to be doing okay and have set up a nature cam so I can try and watch her a bit. Time for upside down foot basking which all my lizards do and looks comedy

[StevieBee]

There's obviously an issue with Mexican wildlife.

We had what turned out to be a Violin Spider sneak ride back with us (stayed in the resort next to Tulum). Didn't realise that it's actually quite dangerous. I took it to a local small zoo but they couldn't take it and their's and DEFRA's advice was to despatch it.

[dundarach]

WelshRich said:

Just to add, what are the chances that a lizard stows away in a persons bag in the first place, manages to survive the journey back, and it then turns out that the bag it stowed away in belongs to someone who is already friends with a reptile rescuer!

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one, my brain is currently so overwhelmed processing this, that I can't enjoy the actual story.....processing....processing...