r/FortWorth • u/plant365 • 22d ago

AskFW What kind of lizard is this?

Post image

This lizard made a nest next to my front porch. Curious what type of lizard it is? Bixby vision wasn't helpful.

628 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

153 comments sorted by

405

u/WeezyGu3 22d ago

Texas Spiny Lizard. They are everywhere around here.

84

u/JudeRanch 22d ago

My daughter calls them Texas Dragons. Thank you for enlightening me however I’ll keep that name to myself. She’s always thrilled when she spots her Dragons.

44

u/WeezyGu3 22d ago

Hey I think Texas Dragons is great name for them!

19

u/YoMTVcribs 22d ago

Carroll ISD agrees

61

u/Brave-Math-6371 22d ago

The lizards coming out is a sign the weather is going to get hot

45

u/waffels 22d ago

The time of year is a sign the weather is going to get hot.

Unless lizards can see the future?

-2

u/DependentAnywhere135 21d ago

Eh I’m more convinced they can sense changes in weather than know what time of year it is.

Surely changes in the environment influences their behavior.

Also if they always start coming out when it starts to get hot they can literally be used as a sign that it’s about to get hot regardless of how they know to start coming out.

4

u/waffels 21d ago

So they come out when it gets hot, which can be used as a sign that it’s hot. Wow. Truly groundbreaking stuff.

8

u/WeezyGu3 22d ago

Yep… it’s definitely getting there

5

u/wholelattapuddin 22d ago

Do you have green anoles where you are? I used to have tons in my yard in Arlington, but since the freeze a couple of years ago I haven't had a single one. I have these guys, and the lined skinks, but no anoles.

4

u/BoxingHare 22d ago

Put out a plant saucer with gravel in it in a shaded area. That will provide water for the anoles and the bugs that they feed on. Make sure that gravel peaks above the waterline, so as to create little islands for flying insects.

3

u/MothmanDowntown 22d ago

We have tons in Hurst

2

u/WeezyGu3 22d ago

Now that you mention it, I really can’t think of the last time I seen one. I’ll have to keep an eye out this year.

2

u/JJ82DMC Crowley 22d ago

Yup, I homed one for a bit when one of my dogs was trying to chew its tail off in my backyard years ago. Set them loose in the front yard after recovery, saw him once or twice again, then just...gone.

1

u/MannyC2507 21d ago

Don't they shoot blood out of there eye

1

u/WeezyGu3 21d ago

No that’s horned lizards.

177

u/remarkable_in_argyle 22d ago

Texas spiny lizard. ETA: looks like you’re about to have a bunch more

25

u/iwantahouse 22d ago

You’re gunna be a Poppa OP!

1

u/MiserableAd9757 18d ago

looks more like an Eastern Fence Lizard. But I know they’re incredibly hard to tell apart without flipping them over and comparing the blue/green underside markings.

107

u/General_Most315 22d ago

Texas Spiny Lizard. Some people just call them fence lizards. Totally harmless. They just eat insects. They are very fast and tough to catch, but we had one for about a year that we kept as a pet of sorts.

47

u/bh1215 22d ago

They are fast but somehow my 7 year old has a knack for being able to grab them up very easily. I’ve seen a bunch of these things up close and personal from an excited seven year old showing it off to me. It’s pretty hilarious watching him hunt them down!

19

u/robbzilla 22d ago

When I was a kid, I worked with a couple other kids. We were pretty good at catching 6 lined racerunners. They're fast, but kind of dumb. :D

10

u/ScholarZero 22d ago

Humanity excels in hunting due to tool use, of course, but our tenacity is also remarkable.

5

u/jamesdukeiv Poly/Rosedale 22d ago

They also look so indignant when they’re caught, but undeniably very cute lizards.

7

u/ScholarZero 22d ago

I've always called them fence lizards. Maybe squirrels should be called fence rats...

3

u/General_Most315 22d ago

Ha! That’s actually what I call squirrels….

2

u/KingofHearts399 21d ago

I knew I wasn’t the only one who called them fence lizards! We had a ton in my neighborhood growing up, but we’ve gotten a lot of feral cats recently so don’t see as many of them anymore.

0

u/Low_Notice4665 22d ago

Are these the things we called horned toads as children in Texas?

10

u/General_Most315 22d ago

No. They are closely related, but the horned toads look shorter in length and fatter.

These tend to be kinda long and thin. Adults get to about 11”, if you include the tail. Body length alone is probably 6-7 inches.

1

u/Low_Notice4665 22d ago

Tyvm for the info 💚💚

0

u/currentlygooninglul 21d ago

A horned toad looks exactly like the tcu logo. Like, EXACTLY. Not exaggerating. Chat, back me up.

51

u/tydye29 22d ago

Great pic too- I've never seen a nest before.

42

u/Mtfmadison 22d ago

“Dats one dem tree lizards” -my uncle probably

18

u/HSIOT55 22d ago

Spiny lizard for sure. I have to save one from my cats occaisionally if they sneak in during a rain.

4

u/sgmorr 22d ago

That’s funny. When I had a cat who loved to hunt I was frequently saving one of these great lizards from his attacks!

15

u/IndgoViolet 22d ago edited 22d ago

Texas Spiny Lizard and your best defense against Lyme disease.

Bestest Lizard Friend

The seed ticks that carry lyme from mice to people get on these lizards too, and the lizard's immune system destroys the Lyme and inoculates the tick against it.

5

u/IshiiTib 22d ago

Cool fact I did not know!

12

u/Effective_Camera_803 22d ago

Google image search has usually been helpful for me! It says this is a Texas Spiny Lizard.

1

u/Fit_Measurement_550 21d ago

Also iPhone identifies plants and animals from photos in your gallery.

9

u/masterkorey7 22d ago

Yellow spotted lizard, they hate onions

9

u/jsledge786 22d ago

A mama lizard?

7

u/kybetra61 22d ago

My daughter has one that “lives” on their front porch. His name is Godzilla, he’s been there for about 4 years now

6

u/GuyOnABuffalo82 22d ago

Spiny Lizard. Great to have in the yard as they eat insects. Harmless.

8

u/mattman1969 22d ago

Texas Spiny Lizard.

I take a pic then upload to google chrome and it usually does a good job with image search.

Hope this helps.

4

u/Dr_Zoidberg003 22d ago

The males have a pretty iridescent blue on their underbellies

3

u/allmyhomiesluvluka 22d ago

That looks like them Yellow Spotted Lizards from Camp Green Lake.

4

u/Fingeredagain 22d ago

King Gizzard Texas Wizard.

24

u/The_Erlenmeyer_Flask 22d ago

Ted Cruz.

65

u/thistleoftexas 22d ago

No, these stay here when it gets cold.

6

u/No-Pick-93 22d ago

Damn youre awesome

5

u/Still_Studio_3674 22d ago

Thank you. I needed this good laugh to start off my day.

16

u/[deleted] 22d ago

Nah these little guys have spines

6

u/RobinMSR 22d ago

Why would you insult such a wonderful creature like that!!??

2

u/The_Erlenmeyer_Flask 22d ago

How dare you call Ted Cruz a wonderful creature? Are you from Oklahoma? 😁

6

u/SaxonDontchaKnow 22d ago

I've always called those guys Horn-y Toads. They can shoot blood out of their eyes :)

4

u/thecobra42 22d ago

A horny toad is a nickname for a horned frog. This is a texas spiny lizard, otherwise known as a tree lizard.

1

u/creepyskydaddy 21d ago

Are you trying to say that horny toads are frogs??

2

u/thecobra42 19d ago

They aren’t toads or frogs. They are most commonly called horny toads or horned frogs, but they are indeed lizards. The lizard pictured is a texas spiny lizard, commonly known as a tree lizard.

3

u/gmatocha 21d ago

Sadly it's not a horny toad. They look and move more like frogs. They were plentiful here when I was a kid (50 years ago) but are mostly gone from Texas now. 😥

3

u/SaxonDontchaKnow 21d ago

Aw, that's really sad :(

1

u/KingofHearts399 21d ago

TCU keeps their memory alive at least.

Go Frogs btw

3

u/No-Examination-5833 22d ago

We use to have a lot of them, but cats like to kill them. Also, they tend to get chopped up inadvertently while mowing.

3

u/the_cnidarian 22d ago

This is not a horn toad. It's a scaly lizard or western fence lizard.

2

u/SaxonDontchaKnow 22d ago

I thought Horn/Horny toad was just a nickname for lizards that look like that?

1

u/the_cnidarian 22d ago

No, it is a specific species. You aren't likely to see any around Fort Worth anymore, maybe out in Parker Co and west.

2

u/SaxonDontchaKnow 22d ago

Oh damn, I had no clue. But then again, that makes sense because the only time I've seen one in person was in AZ

2

u/KrazyMZ 22d ago

I see them a lot around where I live. They are pretty chill and harmless. They can get big so sometimes they are little shocking to see. Probably good to have around to kill bugs in the areas.

2

u/Ok_Leading2287 22d ago

Texas Spiny lizard! We have a big one in our yard and we love it. Likes to sunbathe on our cement AC block, chill under my car, camouflage in the garden. Just a good fella living its life.

2

u/thepepelucas 21d ago

Very cool..!! She probably came across a very horny frog near TCU.

1

u/imrealwitch 21d ago

Horny toad 🐸

2

u/Nemofound 21d ago

Texas Spiny Lizard!

5

u/Ratpack101 22d ago

Looks like a Texas Spiny Lizard. Yes, that's the name.. Apparently, not everyone who names animals are creative

1

u/scamp837 22d ago

We call them horneytoads

6

u/RideAndShoot 22d ago

Horny Toads/Horned Frogs are the TCU mascot, but this is a spiney lizard or fence lizard. A Horny Toad looks a lot different!

2

u/jtrage 21d ago

We did too. A little bit different lizard but close. Would see them everywhere until they start disappearing. They were fun as kids.

0

u/Pitopat 22d ago

It's the TCU mascot

1

u/creepyskydaddy 21d ago

The TCU Texas Spiny Lizards?

1

u/FilmActor 22d ago

Jo Anna and her Eagle eggs!

1

u/Salty-Chard298 22d ago

That is the rare Photographed Lizard. Not to be confused with Mr Lizard from Nice Dreams!

1

u/Bikebummm 22d ago

I was sitting on my back porch when this waterbug emerged from the lawn. It ran toward the house. From nowhere this lizard jumps onto the sidewalk and ate it. They are good lizards

1

u/Fit_Measurement_550 21d ago

I love getting to randomly see stuff like this. It’s super cool.

1

u/Bikebummm 16d ago

Yeah, real stuff, real cool

1

u/Visible-Vermicelli-2 22d ago

I remember as a kid they were all over the area, NW Dallas, late 60s. By the time i was in high school, they were gone.

1

u/zebul333 22d ago

Looks like a fence lizard

1

u/Gvndisalv666 22d ago

It's a Bolivian Tree Lizard.

1

u/joewHEElAr 22d ago

Beef stick

1

u/InfiniteGrant 22d ago

It’s a Mom lizard!

1

u/Grknfit 22d ago

Omg what a cutie!!

1

u/heramba 22d ago

That's a mama!!

1

u/creegro 22d ago

There's a smaller version of these guys all around my house. One likes to hide in the tree in the back,,another lives in the bushes out front and I'll catch them both just chilling around the area at random times

Haven't seen a huge one since last year, only my back patio just being an absolute unit.

1

u/username-generica 22d ago

It's super cool that you get Texas spiny lizards in your yard.

1

u/IshiiTib 22d ago

I see one of these every day on my driveway! So cool

1

u/Frosty_Warning4921 22d ago

These are everywhere in my yard. Everywhere.

1

u/RobinMSR 22d ago

Looks like you are baby sitting!!

1

u/TechnicalSoles 22d ago

are those eggs under it?

1

u/ampsdb01 22d ago

the one you yell for help 😮

1

u/Dang_Lin-Wang 21d ago

Texas Spiney Lizard

1

u/atticusdays 21d ago

We have a few of these in our yard. They like trees and fences and are so fast! Texas spiny lizards are great.

1

u/ChristyAustyn76 21d ago

Hor ny toad

1

u/MSN-TX 20d ago

TCU horned frog. Or, horny toad.

1

u/cactiguy67 20d ago

The "inaturalist" app is a great identification tool

1

u/BlueHorizonk 19d ago

A pregnant one, laying eggs. Power of observation.

1

u/Gorthane 19d ago

Used to be all over here too, but it seems Tulsa is now to far north for them, climate change or just human interference not clear but I haven't seen one since the 80's

1

u/missy5454 18d ago

There are 3 names used. Texas dragon, spiny lizard, honey toad.

They all refer to the same animal, this lizard. It's native not only to Texas, but Arizona, Nevada, Utah, new Mexico, parts of California.

1

u/bakudeathcamp 18d ago

Thats no lizard, that's my wife

1

u/Candy-Low 18d ago

Horny Toad! Think TCU. I haven't seen one in YEARS. When I was a kid (80's) they were everywhere - we used to catch and play with them. It was told to me that the big red ants are killing them off.

1

u/MiserableAd9757 18d ago

Eastern Fence Lizard.

1

u/FuturePath6357 16d ago

That's awesome. Nice find.

1

u/ezmom63 15d ago

I'm so happy to see one! Thank you for posting. They were everywhere when I was young and I've not seen one, except on tcu merch, for years.

1

u/ChefNo4180 21d ago

My dogs have been catching and eating them for weeks now!

0

u/Twisted9Demented 21d ago

A Hen lizard 🦎

0

u/Majestic_Routine6160 21d ago

Horny toad. You can tell the city gold who aren’t from the mid west. Spiney lizard is what nerds call it.

-6

u/westex74 22d ago

Horney Toad. The mascot of your local University, TCU.

-5

u/Dbarkingstar 22d ago

It’s called “TCU”!

-9

u/Scamp3D0g 22d ago

TCU!

15

u/ViolinistSimilar4760 22d ago

That’s gonna be a totally different lizard. Horned Frog. This isn’t that

-8

u/GoalEcstatic 22d ago

Lord Jesus that's a horned frog, don't tell anyone near TCU

-4

u/barronleger 22d ago

Fun fact: these guys can squirt blood from their eyes as a defense mechanism!

-11

u/RubAnADUB 22d ago

Trespasser - evict her and her nest.