Download Agama agama – The Invasive Exotic

Agama agama –
The Invasive Exotic
Chloe Lloyd
Marko Sillanpaa
Project Manager – Ellen Butler
Instructor – Kenneth Gioeli
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
African Redhead Agama
Agama agama
Native to the sub-Saharan Africa, Ethiopia and Kenya.
Population discovered in Dade County in 1976. Released from the pet trade.
Subordinate and juvenile males and females have dull grey or brown color.
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
African Redhead Agama
Agama agama
Males are reported by FWC to reach 12” and according to a herpetological guide they will
grow to 16”. Our observations show closer to 14”.
Dominate males have bright colors. One site indicates that when threatened a male color
will go away.
Marko Sillanpaa
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
Diet
Agama are insectivores. They are also reported to feed on
small mammals, small reptiles, and vegetation.
The agama are visual hunters, who search out their prey,
quickly strike and run away.
There is a report from Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens,
that an agama might have attacked an anole. Our
observations showed anoles in close proximity to agamas.
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
Agama Invasion
1976 –
1986 –
1990s –
2000 –
2003 –
Dade County
Charlotte
Broward
Seminole
Martin
Monroe (non-breading)
Florida Oceanographic Society – Coastal Center
First spotted in 2013. Well established in several locations.
Predation
Birds of Prey – The African harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus) is reported to search rock
crevices for lizards like the agama. Lizard buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus). We were
told that a volunteer at Florida Oceanographic Observed a hawk capture an agama on
property.
Snakes –
Young Leopards –
Yathin S Krishnappa
© 2016 Google
Data SIO, NOA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCO
Image © 2016 Terra Metrics
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
If this project were to continue …
Observations – Our project was done in winter. Temperature was 80° at noon during first
observations with many sightings. Next session was 50° at 8:30 with minimal sightings
starting at 10:00 am.
Trapping – Cage didn’t appear to work and Agamas were happy to take bait once it
drifted out of the trap. No response on bottles even when placed with live bait
frequented areas. May need clear traps. Actively saw feeding on live and free-dried meal
worm. No evidence of interest to crickets or berries. Observed trying to catch a butterfly.
Advocacy – There’s not a lot of knowledge about these animals but there are people
wanting to learn and possibly take action.
Lessons learned …
Ken’s First Rule – Always, always have written permission. Once you have it don’t trust
that everyone’s on the same page.
Biological Controls
https://youtu.be/3epdd-r3-vk?t=21
Wagner Machado Carlos Lemes (Goiânia, Brazil)
Collection During Hibernation (Brumation)
A species of Agama (Agama stellio stellio) hibernates. Those kept at pets are told to
be kept at 50° during hibernation.
Perform collections during this time period as Agamas are inactive.
Soak (with cold water) known rocky habitats to induce further temperature drops.
Zeynel Cebeci
EDD MapS and IveGot1
Citizen Science reporting of
invasive flora and fauna.
https://www.eddmaps.org/florida/
Florida Fish and Wildlife – Exotic Pet Amnesty Program
Place for adoption and adopt
exotic pets.
http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/amnesty-program/
Advocacy – Stop the Invasion
Promote the remove the distribution of exotic reptiles from below the freeze zone.
At least two distributors in the state of Florida. No reported escapes.
Lizards in cold climates like common collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris)
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
Citations
• Anderson, David, (2010), Fauna – Agama Lizard, David Anderson Safaris (website),
• http://www.davidandersonsafaris.com/fauna/wildlife/agama_lizard/agama_lizard.html
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Non-Native Species Reptiles
• http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/reptiles/african-redhead-agama/
• http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/reptiles/brown-anole/
• http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/reptiles/northern-curleytail-lizard/
• Hilgris, R., (2000), "Agama agama" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
• http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Agama_agama/
• Kaplan, Melissa, Agamas, Melissa Kaplan’s Herp Care Collection,
• http://www.anapsid.org/agamas.html
• Loumbourdis, N. S., (1984) Hibernation of the lizard Agama stellio stellio in Northern Greece.
• The Mapala Research Center, Field Guide, Mapala Live!
• http://mpalalive.org/field_guide/red_headed_rock_agama
• Stroud, James, (April 9, 2014), Anolis lizard predation in south Florida, Up With Climate (blog),
• https://upwithclimate.wordpress.com/2014/04/09/anolis-lizard-predation-in-south-florida/
Curlytail Lizard
Leiocephalus carinatus
Native to the Bahamas.
Intentionally released in 1940’s to rid
sugar cane fields of insect pests. Also
part of the pet trade.
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
Males may reach 11”
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
Brown Anole
Anolis sagrei
Native to the Bahamas.
Accidentally released in 1930’s around seaports.
Males reach 8”
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa
Credit: Marko Sillanpaa