Cayman Island Herping Photos

[Entomotile]

Well, I have never posted in the Liz Lounge but I wanted to share these pic from my trip to Grand Cayman. I tried to limit it to herping pics, as there are 500+ photos of the beautiful scenery there. I highly recommend going if it has ever crossed your mind, we stayed for 9 days and that was just not enough. Here we go!

Starting off with the Blue-throated Anole – Anolis conspersus conspersus. This sp is endemic to the Island

Next is the Cuban Brown Anole – Anolis sagrei sagrei. It is indigenous but not endemic.

Now the Racer or Ground Snake – Alsophis cantherigerus caymanus. This species is endemic to the islands and highly variable, all three specimens were very different in coloration.

 

[Entomotile]

Now the Curly-tailed Lizard or Lion Lizard – Leiocephalus carinatus varius. These guys are indigenous, and quite the clowns. Their tails curl over their backs when they run.

Now the Cuban Tree Frog – Osteopilus septentrionalis. This guy was around four inches long and sat very still for his pictures.

Now The Green Iguana -Iguana iguana. An invasive introduced species.

And finally, the Cayman Blue Iguana – Cyclura nubile lewisi. These guys are indigenous to Grand Cayman and endangered with only ~750 adults individuals left in the wild (according to the preserve we visited). We observed 5 adults, most of whom were tagged with colored beads on the back of the neck.

 

[Entomotile]

And more Blue Iguanas!

I threw this one flowers, which it eagerly consumed

This guy was HUGE! he has a deformed back, but it did not seem to bother him.

I got too close and he started posturing

 

[Cainschams]

Thats killer!! Nice pics and really nice looking animals.

 

[Entomotile]

Thanks Cain, it was a beautiful place. We try to go on a trip a year and this place was great. I loved the snorkeling, it looked like a Nat Geo spread for sure.

 

[coldbloodedAL]

Great photos! The blue iguanas are gorgeous!

 

[dannyisamazing]

Great pics! Really like the blue iguana, never knew there was one like that.

 

[Entomotile]

Great photos! The blue iguanas are gorgeous!

Thanks, I braved the black Friday madness to get a nice Nikon for myself and I'm finally getting used to it. The blue iguanas were so...regal they made great photo subjects. With the curly tails coming in a close second- they were clowns!

 

[Entomotile]

Great pics! Really like the blue iguana, never knew there was one like that.

I really didn't either till I read up before the trip. Circa 2002 they were functionally extinct with only 15 or so in the wild but with captive release programs they are building back up. I'm glad, they are too cool to let slip away.

 

[ataraxia]

Great pics. Looks like you had a good time!

 

[Entomotile]

Great pics. Looks like you had a good time!

Thanks. And I most definetly did, it's a great place to visit. Hopefully next time I will get to visit Little Cayman and Brach. They are less populated, so I can only assume more beautiful.

 

[carol5208]

Looks like a reptile lovers dream there! We have the curly tailed lizards here in florida. I have some of them who live on my property. My neighbor across the street had one he would feed. He would could right up to him and eat hot dogs. He named him Bubba! Thanks for sharing the pics!!

 

[deadhd5]

Great pictures Caitlin! It gave me a good opportunity to close my eyes and picture being on a tropical island (instead of work). I hope they are able to keep up the good work and continue to bring back the population of blue iguanas, they are incredible

 

[Cainschams]

I really didn't either till I read up before the trip. Circa 2002 they were functionally extinct with only 15 or so in the wild but with captive release programs they are building back up. I'm glad, they are too cool to let slip away.

WOW! That is definitely a great thing. Beautiful animals. Looks like you had a great time. Nothing like catching some lizards hanging out in their natural habitat Im hoping to at least visit a friend in Honduras this year if not just stay down there Lots of cool reptiles and amphibians to find there.

 

[Seiryu]

Nice pictures! How long would you say the big deformed guy was?

 

[Kent67]

Dang, those Cyclura are awesome! Thanks for sharing the pics and I sure wouldn't mind seeing more of the scenery, architecture, people, etc.

 

[lovepicasso]

Great shots...love the Caymen Islands.

 

[KatCham]

WOW!!!

Fantastic pics of some impressive reptiles there!

Nice one! Thanks for sharing!

 

[MollyT]

Beautiful pictures!! The reptiles you saw were amazing! I have never seen a picture of a blue iguana before. They are just gorgeous! I got to go to Grand Cayman when I was 18, but it was on a cruise so I only got to spend 2 or 3 days there, but of all the places I have been, it is my favorite and I want to go back!!

 

[Entomotile]

Looks like a reptile lovers dream there! We have the curly tailed lizards here in florida. I have some of them who live on my property. My neighbor across the street had one he would feed. He would could right up to him and eat hot dogs. He named him Bubba! Thanks for sharing the pics!!

Ha! Awesome! I really fell for those guys, I didn't know there were any here in the US. I wish they were here in TX