Page 22 - AHATA

A10
Friday 30 May 2025 locAl

Sun catchers: The different lizards in Aruba

ORANJESTAD – Colorful
or camou昀氀aged, you’re
bound to encounter a va-
riety of lizards basking in
the sun or scurrying on their
way in our island. From the
charming, friendly iguanas
to the good-luck gecko
Pega-Pega, you’re bound
to meet a few of these spe-
cial residents during your
visit.

Aruba, as a desert island, is
home to an incredible va-
riety of unique and colorful ter for them. Pega pega is The Kododo help take care
a gecko endemic to our of Aruba’s vegetation by
species. Among them we
can 昀椀nd different lizards, island, but in time, some playing a signi昀椀cant role in
4–5 intrusive gecko species the dispersal of seeds for
most of which have South
American origins. But there have been observed, some certain plants: when they
of which do not cease to eat fruit, they excrete the
are a few exceptions.
amaze us with the racket seeds in diverse locations,
Iguanas they make, especially dur- contributing to the repro-
Iguanas are easy to spot, ing the hours of the night. duction cycle of our local
plants.
as they are larger than
most other lizards and Turnip-tailed gecko ings aid in camou昀氀age The Pega-pega Phyllodac-
when young, have a bright The turnip-tailed gecko is against tree bark. They are tylus Julieni is also a pro- Striped anole
green color that makes known locally as the Pe- harmless and fragile; you tected species in Aruba, by The striped anole (Anolis lin-
them stand out. ga-Pega, meaning sticky- can hold one in your hands law. It is illegal to kill them! eatus) that lives in Aruba is
sticky, due to the way it as long as you are VERY known locally as Waltaka
or Toteki. This is a species of
The iguanas usually found sticks to walls using the suc- gentle.
in Aruba are the Iguana tion in its little 昀椀ngers. They Never put pressure on its Blue Kododo lizard in the family Dacty-
iguana, known as the are found inside houses, tail because it will surely These are one of the most loidae, and they are native
green iguana, or locally as and are mostly a nocturnal drop as a measure to try to striking lizards in Aruba, rec- to Aruba and Curaçao. It is
Yuwana. The Yuwana are animal. distract the predator, and ognizable by the male’s usually found in dry areas,
a mostly herbivorous spe- they are different from oth- bright blue color. The Aru- commonly where there are
cies, and can grow up to According to Etnia Nativa, er lizards because they’re ban whiptail lizard, Cnemi- not large trees; rather they
2 meters in size, including the local Pega Pega is im- long-lived, talkative, lack dophorus arubensis, is a enjoy rocks, walls or tree
the tail, making them one mediately recognizable by eyelids, and their small species endemic to Aruba, trunks, as they prefer to stay
of the largest in the iguana its large size, with a body scales are situated next meaning you can only 昀椀nd close to the ground.
family. As you will see, de- length of up to 12 cm, to each other like cobble- it here on our One Happy
spite their name, as they and its large, swollen tail, stones rather than overlap- Island! They are also recog- These lizards are about 7cm
reach adulthood, the igua- approximately the same ping as is the case in most nized as the most common in length, have a brown
nas can take on a grey or length or slightly shorter other lizards. and populous lizard on the color with a stripe on each
blue tone instead of the than its body; females are island. While the male is side and typically, several
bright green displayed by larger and more robust Turnip-tailed Geckos are blue with white dots, the stripes on the body and tail
the young ones. In Aruba than males. It has short, insectivorous and feed on female is brown with blue that are lighter in color. It
– as in the rest of the King- robust legs with 昀氀attened cockroaches, grasshop- dots. has a dewlap which is or-
ange-yellow – and what’s
dom of the Netherlands toes and extensive basal pers, beetles, 昀氀ies, mosqui-
– the most usual color var- webbing. toes, and spiders, which These charming lizards eat unique about this species
ies from green to lavender, The undersides of its toes makes them the best pest mostly plants, such as 昀氀ow- is that it is the only known
black and sometimes a are covered in lamellae, control to have at home! ers, nectar, leaves and species of anole where the
reddish brown. which are used as friction They spend their days con- fruits, and occasionally en- dewlap is asymetrically col-
pads to cling to smooth cealed in dark tree grooves joy some insects. They are ored, with one side being
selective in which plants a deeper orange and the
Yuwana is a protected spe- vertical surfaces. Some can and cavities, in narrow
cies, as it is listed under Ap- even walk around com- crevices in the walls, or they eat, because of the other side a lighter yellow.
pendix II of the Convention pletely upside down. Its behind paintings, which toxins present in many Mostly this is seen in the
on International Trade in En- toes are covered with ridg- provide the perfect shel- available plants species. males, as it is almost im-
dangered Species (CITES), es, which are peppered perceptible in the females.
meaning that international with millions of microscopic If the Toteki shows you his
trade is regulated through bristle-like structures called dewlap, retreat! This is not
the CITES permit system. setae that attach and de- a friendly greeting!
In the past, Arubans used tach when the animal wills
to eat a popular Yuwana them to, and they never Lizards are wonderful crea-
soup, as it was believed to get gunked up. tures that are precious to
give strength and help re- our fragile, local ecosys-
store health – probably due They are variable in color- tem. Please be mindful of
to the protein boost it deliv- ation, from a mottled dark these residents as you en-
ered. However, it is now ille- gray to orange-brown, and joy your stay.
gal to catch, kill, buy or sell are capable of changing
Yuwanas in Aruba, and this color depending on their Images: Some images are
includes eating them! mood and surroundings. from Aruba Birdlife Conser-
Mottled and banded mark- vation.