Florida’s diverse ecosystems are home to a wide array of lizard species, each adapted to its unique environment. Understanding their dietary habits provides insight into their ecological roles and how they interact with their surroundings, consuming a broad spectrum of items found in Florida’s natural habitats.
Common Food Sources
Lizards in Florida typically consume a broad range of food items, reflecting opportunistic feeding strategies. Insects are a primary component of many lizard diets, including crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, flies, and moths. Other invertebrates, such as spiders, worms, snails, and millipedes, are also common prey. Some species supplement their diet with occasional plant matter like fruits, nectar, and leaves. Larger lizards may also consume small vertebrates, including smaller lizard species, baby rodents, or bird eggs.
Dietary Habits of Key Florida Species
Florida hosts numerous lizard species, each with distinct dietary preferences.
Green Anoles
Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis), Florida’s native anole, primarily consume small insects such as flies, crickets, spiders, and ants. They are also observed to occasionally lick nectar from plants and eat small slugs or worms.
Brown Anoles
Brown Anoles (Anolis sagrei), an invasive species in Florida, are aggressive opportunistic feeders that eat a wide variety of arthropods, including beetles, crickets, flies, grasshoppers, and moths. They also consume other invertebrates like snails and earthworms. Brown Anoles are known to prey on small vertebrates, including newly hatched green anoles.
Geckos
Geckos, such as the Tropical House Gecko, are mainly insectivores, preying on insects like moths, beetles, flies, crickets, and cockroaches. They also consume other small invertebrates, including spiders. Some gecko species might also eat small rodents or other small reptiles.
Skinks
Skinks, like the Broadheaded Skink and Five-lined Skink, are active foragers that primarily eat a wide range of small invertebrates. Some skinks, such as the Florida Mole Skink, focus on surface-dwelling invertebrates like beetle larvae and termites. Larger skinks may occasionally eat fruits.
Green Iguanas
Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana), an established non-native species in South Florida, are primarily herbivores. Their diet mainly consists of foliage, flowers, and fruits. Juvenile iguanas, however, consume more insects and other animal material.
Northern Curly-tailed Lizards
Northern Curly-tailed Lizards (Leiocephalus carinatus), another invasive species, are omnivores with a preference for insects such as grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. They are highly adaptable and have been observed eating human food scraps. These lizards are also known to prey on smaller lizard species, including anoles.
Factors Influencing Diet
Several factors influence the diet of lizards in Florida, impacting what and how much they consume.
Habitat
Specific habitat plays a significant role, as food availability differs between urban, natural, arboreal (tree-dwelling), and terrestrial (ground-dwelling) environments.
Other Factors
Seasonality also dictates food availability, with certain prey items or plant matter being more abundant during specific times of the year. The lizard’s size and age are determinants, as larger lizards can consume larger prey, while juveniles often feed on smaller insects. Competition for food resources among different lizard species, particularly between native and invasive populations, can also influence dietary choices and hunting behaviors.
What Not to Feed Wild Lizards
Feeding wild lizards is generally discouraged due to potential negative impacts on their health and behavior. Providing food can lead to lizards becoming dependent on humans, altering their natural foraging instincts. This practice can also result in nutritional imbalances, especially if the offered food does not meet their specific dietary needs.
Processed human foods, bread, sugary items, and dairy products are harmful and inappropriate for lizards. Certain foods like avocados, citrus fruits, onions, garlic, and fireflies are toxic to them. Insects caught from outside may carry pesticides or parasites, posing a risk to the lizards. Observing lizards in their natural habitat without interference is best for their well-being.