About Leiolepis belliana (Hardwicke & Gray, 1827)
Leiolepis belliana has a tan or olive green body with yellow spots on its back. It has small orange and black lines on its sides and extendable side flaps. During mating season, males develop bright red and black stripes. Adult individuals can reach a total length of 15 inches. This species is naturally found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It has been present as an invasive species in Florida since at least 1992. It was originally introduced by a tropical fish dealer in the Miami area, and its populations in Florida continue to spread. The ecological impacts of this invasive population on native Florida species are currently unknown. Leiolepis belliana prefers open, dry areas and grasslands. It digs and lives in burrows that average 30 cm (12 inches) deep and 70 cm (28 inches) long, and uses these burrows to protect itself during the night. This species is strictly monogamous, and mating pairs share their burrow with one another. Females can lay up to 8 eggs in a single clutch. Juveniles are cared for in their parents' burrow for a few months, before they dig their own burrows in the nearby area.
