Have you recently heard about the yellow spotted tropical night lizard? Yes? Well then you likely want to know more about these beautiful little creatures.
They really are quite beautiful. But do they make good pets? What is their diet like? Where did they originate?
There are a plethora of little facts surrounding these lizards that not everyone knows about and that is what we are going to cover in this article (see also “Sagebrush Lizard Care Sheet“).
So, without further ado, let us dive right in and get started!
Let’s Talk About The Physical Features Of These Lizards
The yellow spotted tropical night lizard usually has a dark body color which can range from black to rusty brown.
As you may have guessed from the name, these little reptiles will have a bunch of little yellow spots on the side of their bodies.
These spots can be seen from their snouts down to their abdomens. If you see these creatures in real life or in some pictures, you may find that their spots are a little faded.
They can also have indistinct borders. On top of that, the underbelly of these lizards will have a yellowish color. But there can also be brownish patches on the belly as well.
The scales on these lizards are unique in the way that the dorsal scales are significantly larger which can give these reptiles an almost bearded appearance.
In comparison, the ventral scales are most often smaller and they will have a mildly square shape.
Yellow spotted tropical night lizards will often have a shiny black head with a few faded yellow spots. On the underside of the head there will be an almost uniform brownish-gray shade which can range from dark to light.
The lower jaw of these lizards looks a little robust in the way that the dark and light combination of the pattern makes it looks like there are bands on its lower jaw. It really is quite beautiful once you get a look!
Usually the upper lip of the yellow spotted tropical night lizard will be black, but there can be yellow spots on the lip as well.
These little creatures have a patterned tail which ranges in bands of yellow with black and brown bands as well.
The yellow spotted tropical night lizard is quite a large lizard. Especially when you compare them to other varieties of night lizards. The adults will get to between two and a half inches and five inches in length.
That is quite big for a little lizard!
What About The Distribution And Habitat?
These beautiful reptiles originate from Central America where they largely live in subtropical rainforests.
Specifically they live along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts where they live in elevated areas which can be more than two thousand feet high.
The yellow spotted tropical night lizard may live in a geographical rainforest but they are very hard to find in the wild. The reason for this is their camouflage scales which are perfectly colored to help them blend in and hide from predators.
You will often see these lizards in the following environments:
- Rotting Logs
- Rock Crevices
- Tree Trunks
- Leaf Litters
You are most likely to see these lizards at night. So if you take a stroll in the forest when it is dark, you may find that you will be more likely to see one of these lizards.
Especially if you look under damp leaves, or in rocks. Be aware that their flat bodies will help them squeeze into tight hiding places you might not think to look.
What Do Yellow Spotted Tropical Night Lizards Eat?
These little lizards are largely insectivores. Which as you might have guessed means that they eat largely insects and other small bugs.
In fact, in the mild these reptiles mostly eat ants, centipedes, flies, scorpions, spiders and termites. But they are known for eating wax worms (see also “Waxworm Care Sheet“) and crickets as well.
These little lizards will usually find their food within their microhabitats. This means that the food they eat will be found in and around places that they live.
For example in decaying logs, tree crevices, rocks and other places that these lizards like to call home.
But yellow spotted tropical night lizards are not safe in their chosen habitats. Predators like snakes also call rocks and rotten logs home.
What Is The Reproduction Cycle Like For These Lizards?
Firstly, it is important to note that you cannot really tell the difference between male and female yellow spotted tropical night lizards by looking at their external features.
The breeding habits of these lizards are actually quite strange in comparison to other night lizards. One thing to note is that they are quite viviparous in nature.
This means that they do not lay eggs and instead will give birth to live young. This is not usual for reptiles!
The populations of these lizards are quite isolated. Many of the population groups will be all female as they are known for reproducing by parthenogenesis.
This means that the reproduction process of these lizards is asexual. This means that these lizards can reproduce without needing a male to fertilize the embryos.
These asexual populations of yellow spotted tropical night lizards are most often sound in southern areas of Central America. There are groups in Northern America which are known to reproduce sexually more often.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learned everything you wanted to know about yellow spotted tropical night lizards. These reptiles really are quite spectacular.
But there are a ton of other beautiful and fascinating lizards out there.
So, if you want to learn more about reptiles, make sure to check out our website. We have a range of articles which you are bound to find interesting and insightful.
With all of that said, have a fantastic day. Thanks for reading!
This is what inspired me to start The-Lizard-Lounge.com. I wanted to create a space that offers information about the care of various reptiles and lizards, to help those passionate about these animals learn how to care for them.
Join me, and learn all about these fascinating and fantastic creatures!
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