Page 13 - AHATA

Thursday 19 december 2024 locAl
A10

Sun catchers: The different lizards in Aruba

little fingers. They are found inside
houses, and are mostly a nocturnal
animal.

According to Etnia Nativa, the lo-
cal Pega Pega is immediately rec-
ognizable by its large size, with a
body length of up to 12 cm, and its
large, swollen tail, approximately
the same length or slightly shorter
ORANJESTAD – Colorful or camou- than its body; females are larger
flaged, you’re bound to encounter and more robust than males. It has
a variety of lizards basking in the short, robust legs with flattened
sun or scurrying on their way in our toes and extensive basal webbing.
island. From the charming, friendly The undersides of its toes are cov-
iguanas to the good-luck gecko ered in lamellae, which are used
Pega-Pega, you’re bound to meet as friction pads to cling to smooth
a few of these special residents vertical surfaces. Some can even
during your visit. walk around completely upside
down. Its toes are covered with ing lizards in Aruba, recognizable dry areas, commonly where there
Aruba, as a desert island, is home ridges, which are peppered with by the male’s bright blue color. are not large trees; rather they
to an incredible variety of unique millions of microscopic bristle-like The Aruban whiptail lizard, Cnemi- enjoy rocks, walls or tree trunks,
and colorful species. Among them structures called setae that at- dophorus arubensis, is a species en- as they prefer to stay close to the
we can find different lizards, most tach and detach when the animal demic to Aruba, meaning you can ground.
of which have South American wills them to, and they never get only find it here on our One Happy
origins. But there are a few excep- gunked up. Island! They are also recognized as These lizards are about 7cm in
tions. the most common and populous length, have a brown color with a
They are variable in coloration, lizard on the island. While the male stripe on each side and typically,
Iguanas from a mottled dark gray to or- is blue with white dots, the female several stripes on the body and
Iguanas are easy to spot, as they ange-brown, and are capable of is brown with blue dots. tail that are lighter in color. It has
are larger than most other lizards changing color depending on their a dewlap which is orange-yellow
and when young, have a bright mood and surroundings. Mottled These charming lizards eat mostly – and what’s unique about this
green color that makes them stand and banded markings aid in cam- plants, such as flowers, nectar, species is that it is the only known
out. ouflage against tree bark. They are leaves and fruits, and occasionally species of anole where the dew-
harmless and fragile; you can hold enjoy some insects. They are selec- lap is asymetrically colored, with
The iguanas usually found in Aruba one in your hands as long as you tive in which plants they eat, be- one side being a deeper orange
are the Iguana iguana, known as are VERY gentle. cause of the toxins present in many and the other side a lighter yellow.
the green iguana, or locally as Yu- Never put pressure on its tail be- available plants species. The Kodo- Mostly this is seen in the males, as
wana. The Yuwana are a mostly cause it will surely drop as a mea- do help take care of Aruba’s veg- it is almost imperceptible in the fe-
herbivorous species, and can grow sure to try to distract the predator, etation by playing a significant role males. If the Toteki shows you his
up to 2 meters in size, including the and they are different from other in the dispersal of seeds for certain dewlap, retreat! This is not a friend-
tail, making them one of the larg- lizards because they’re long-lived, plants: when they eat fruit, they ly greeting!
est in the iguana family. As you will talkative, lack eyelids, and their excrete the seeds in diverse loca-
see, despite their name, as they small scales are situated next to tions, contributing to the reproduc- Lizards are wonderful creatures
reach adulthood, the iguanas can each other like cobblestones rath- tion cycle of our local plants. that are precious to our fragile, lo-
take on a grey or blue tone instead er than overlapping as is the case cal ecosystem. Please be mindful
of the bright green displayed by in most other lizards. Striped anole of these residents as you enjoy your
the young ones. In Aruba – as in the The striped anole (Anolis lineatus) stay.
rest of the Kingdom of the Nether- Turnip-tailed Geckos are insectivo- that lives in Aruba is known locally
lands – the most usual color varies rous and feed on cockroaches, as Waltaka or Toteki. This is a spe- Images: Some images are from Aruba
from green to lavender, black and grasshoppers, beetles, flies, mos- cies of lizard in the family Dactyloi- Birdlife Conservation.
sometimes a reddish brown. quitoes, and spiders, which makes dae, and they are native to Aruba
them the best pest control to have and Curaçao. It is usually found in
Yuwana is a protected species, as at home! They spend their days
it is listed under Appendix II of the concealed in dark tree grooves
Convention on International Trade and cavities, in narrow crevices
in Endangered Species (CITES), in the walls, or behind paintings,
meaning that international trade is which provide the perfect shelter
regulated through the CITES permit for them. Pega pega is a gecko
system. In the past, Arubans used endemic to our island, but in time,
to eat a popular Yuwana soup, as it some 4–5 intrusive gecko species
was believed to give strength and have been observed, some of
help restore health – probably due which do not cease to amaze us
to the protein boost it delivered. with the racket they make, espe-
However, it is now illegal to catch, cially during the hours of the night.
kill, buy or sell Yuwanas in Aruba,
and this includes eating them! The Pega-pega Phyllodactylus Ju-
lieni is also a protected species
Turnip-tailed gecko in Aruba, by law. It is illegal to kill
The turnip-tailed gecko is known them!
locally as the Pega-Pega, mean-
ing sticky-sticky, due to the way it Blue Kododo
sticks to walls using the suction in its These are one of the most strik-