# Northern Curly-tailed Lizard

*Leiocephalus carinatus*

They curl their tails over their backs to signal to predators that they have been spotted, or to distract them into attacking the replaceable tail instead of the head.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Reptilia › Squamata › Leiocephalidae › Leiocephalus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** increasing
- **Biome:** urban
- **Habitat:** Coastal scrub, sandy beaches, rocky shorelines, gardens, parks, and urban seawalls or sidewalks.
- **Diet:** Omnivorous, feeding on insects, spiders, flowers, berries, and smaller lizards like anoles.
- **Range:** Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, United States (Florida)
- **Size:** 5 to 11 inches (13 to 28 cm) in length
- **Lifespan:** 3-6 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Highly resilient with no major threats; expanding its invasive range in Florida while remaining secure in its native Caribbean range.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to humans. They are wary and will quickly flee if approached. If caught, they may pinch with a harmless bite that rarely breaks the skin. Observe from a distance of 3-5 feet to watch their unique tail-curling display. If bitten, wash the area with soap and water.

## About

Leiocephalus carinatus , commonly known as the northern curly-tailed lizard , is a species of lizard in the family Leiocephalidae (curly-tailed lizards).

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/2edea24f-6969-4acd-8e1e-29acfca1f9fb
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/39280
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiocephalus carinatus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/71160702/medium.jpeg (Dani E Pérez, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.