Strange Creatures in my yard ...

I've seen ducks, turkey's, deer, opossums, racoons, frogs (two kinds), squirrels (black and grey) along with assorted birds, worms and the occasional cat.... however I was just digging old wood garden edging up in my front yard, pulled one of the stakes out...and I spy a creature that I can honestly say I've never seen before. I think it is a lizard - never saw a lizard in my yard.... not only that it has the strangest looking yellow spots.... any ideas? There was another smaller lizard looking thing, with no spots - both have been relocated to a spacious wood pile in the back woods. Since I have done this to lots of frogs as I have been gardening, my husband is now calling it "Tracey's relocation service"

That is a salamander. They are an amphibian,like a frog.

No, it is a true lizard:

Yellow-spotted tropical night lizard


Family: Xantusiidae Night lizards (family name Xantusiidae) are a group of very small, viviparous (live-bearing) lizards, averaging from less than 4 cm to over 12 cm long. It has only three genera, with approximately 23 living species. The genera are divided by geographic range: Xantusia in southwestern North America and Baja California, Cricosaura in Cuba, and Lepidophyma, the most populous night lizard genus, in Central America.

Genus: Lepidophyma Tropical night lizards (genus Lepidophyma—Greek for "warty scales,") compose one of three genera of night lizards (family Xantusiidae), which are a group of viviparous (live-bearing) lizards. There are 19 tropical night lizard species, making it the most populous night lizard genus. It is distributed throughout Central America, found anywhere from central Mexico to Panama, depending on the particular species. Tropical night lizards, particularly the yellow-spotted variety, are sometimes called Central American bark lizards by pet dealers and owners.
..... Click the link for more information.
Species: Flavimaculatum


Lepidophyma flavimaculatum
The yellow-spotted tropical night lizard (Lepidophyma flavimaculatum) is a night lizard Night lizards (family name Xantusiidae) are a group of very small, viviparous (live-bearing) lizards, averaging from less than 4 cm to over 12 cm long. It has only three genera, with approximately 23 living species. The genera are divided by geographic range: Xantusia in southwestern North America and Baja California, Cricosaura in Cuba, and Lepidophyma, the most populous night lizard genus, in Central America.
.......... Click the link for more information. . It includes two subspecies, Lepidophyma flavimaculatum flavimaculatum and Lepidophyma flavimaculatum obscurum.
Yellow-spotted tropical night lizards are among the largest of the night lizards, reaching a length of 12.7 cm. They are nearly black in color, with a series of yellow spots running along their sides from the tips of their snouts to their rear flanks. The spots shift into thin and subtle yellow bands on their tails. There is also yellow coloring on their underbody. Their heads are smooth and snakelike in appearance, while their bodies are covered in rough skin.

Like all night lizards, it is viviparous A viviparous animal is an animal employing vivipary, a method of reproduction in which the embryo develops inside the body of the mother from which it gains nourishment, and not from an egg. Viviparous offspring live independently and require an external food supply from birth. Vivipary is best developed in placental mammals, but also occurs in many reptiles, some amphibians and a few fishes.
..... Click the link for more information. , giving live birth to its young. Yellow-spotted tropical night lizards also include all-female parthenogenetic


Yellow-spotted tropical night lizards live in decaying logs in wet climates.

Well first I would like to say how much the little creatures that "Tracys moving service" has transported elsewhere should appreciate the fact that you moved them. I am to afraid of anything that is slimy!!
Next I would say that I am not quite sure what that would be. But I have posted pictures of a weird looking lizard I found LILO playing with in the back yard one day. It had the end of its tail broken off. But it was the weirdest looking lizard. Not quite as pretty as the one you found.
They both to me seem to look like someones "pet" lizards that got away. They just do not look like lizards that live out in our back yards.

The yellow spotted lizard is sold in pet shops - it is a tropical lizard. There is a picture at
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionar...night%20lizard

I don't know what the other one is, but it is pretty. Luckily they can regrow their tails!

Ambystoma maculatum -Spotted Salamander.
A good friend to keep around your garden, keep the nasty bugs in check.

The second picture is a skink, looks like a common brown ground skink.

Ok you're right - I saw a picture! It is pretty.

Originally Posted by Arlyn

Ambystoma maculatum -Spotted Salamander.
A good friend to keep around your garden, keep the nasty bugs in check.

The second picture is a skink, looks like a common brown ground skink.

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Yep, that is my friend! Thanks!

Originally Posted by Arlyn

Ambystoma maculatum -Spotted Salamander.
A good friend to keep around your garden, keep the nasty bugs in check.

The second picture is a skink, looks like a common brown ground skink.

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HMMMM.. where could I find more info on this lizard???? Thanks!!

Best I can say is to see if you can find a field guide, either online or in print, to identifying North American Skinks, or North American lizards.


I only know about them because I'm a fan of the not so cuddly, creepy type pets.
I love reptiles and amphibians, as well as bugs.
I currently keep a tarantula, but my favorite creepy is frogs.

Originally Posted by Talon

http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/lizards/scilat.htm

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Thanks!!!

I love little salamanders, skinks, lizards. We have cute little skinks with electric blue tails. They are pretty

Originally Posted by CoolCat

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Aww, c'mon - I bet you have some creatures running around your yard! What do you normally see?

Originally Posted by Arlyn

I currently keep a tarantula, but my favorite creepy is frogs.

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I see quite a few frogs in the yard to - one that to me looks like a "normal" frog - usually brown or maroonish - once I beleive I saw one that was yellowish brown. the other frogs are ones that I usually see at night, sectioned to the window with the little bubble/suction thingies at the end of their feet.

We get hedgehogs, Wetas and all sorts of spiders, and of course birds!

That is cute, Tracey!

Here's a stranger in my yard - or I guess my feeder. I'm not used to seeing this type of woodpecker at my feeder but they seem to like this Blueberry Suet we put out and don't leave the entire day (Mr. and Mrs. Woodpecker)

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/program...l#reproduction

Ewww! I really don't like creatures like that! I'm very afraid of snakes and lizards (and cockroaches). I think I only like animals that have either fur or feathers and/or is a cat. I live in the country though. We have all kinds of animals running around out there - possums, raccoons, foxes, deer, chipmunks, rats, squirrels, birds, ducks, frogs, bats, wild turkeys, wild hogs, armadillos, coyotes, lizards and snakes and more. - - I make it a habit to NEVER go outside at night in the dark. I might get eaten by something .

Originally Posted by captiva

Here's a stranger in my yard - or I guess my feeder. I'm not used to seeing this type of woodpecker at my feeder but they seem to like this Blueberry Suet we put out and don't leave the entire day (Mr. and Mrs. Woodpecker)

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/program...l#reproduction

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Oh wow!! How beautiful is that!!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing it!!