Submitted by Joggingmusic t3_yexdgt in Connecticut
After catching up on the types of snakes around here, I discovered that there is one type of lizard, albeit rare, that can be found in CT.
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Five-lined-Skink
Has anyone ever seen one of these? I had no idea we had true lizards here in our state.
If you want to geek out, we’ve also got a hybrid salamander thing going.
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Blue-spotted-Salamander
Never seen one, but there are nonnative Italian wall lizards that have been introduced into CT. Primarily Greenwich but probably other coastal towns
Up until 2005/2006 we’d fine reptiles and amphibians ALL OVER ct including Hartford backyards. They went from a common occurrence you could pile up in a 2 liter to completely gone by 2012. Not just in Hartford but in Tolland county backwoods we couldn’t find even a salamander under a rock anymore. I’ve always wondered what caused the insane drop off.
I’ve seen a resurgence in my area (central Fairfield county) the past 5 years,
I saw one once maybe like 12 years ago or so at Lake Compounce. Never seen one before or since!
I found them before in one of the five areas where they can be found, "along ledges in southwestern Hartford County." Hanging Hills area.
I grew up in the hanging hills area…that’s crazy I’ve never seen one
I have only ever seen one, and I’m a fairly avid outdoorsmen, when I was 12 hiking over pine ledge. I said “Dad, look at that lizard! I didn’t know we had lizards in Connecticut.” My Dad, “We don’t.” He didn’t see it…
If you are lucky enough to have seen one, please do not disclose the location. That would bring them to extinction.
It’s says where they are generally found in the link OP posted.
Nope. I have seen reptiles like salamanders, but never that.
Well…salamanders are amphibians. Sorry, not to be that guy 😛
That’s why I said reptiles and not lizards.
Are salamanders reptiles?
No, they are not. All lizards are reptiles, while amphibians are neither reptiles nor lizards. Here is a super simplified vertebrate evolutionary tree. Note that reptiles are more closely related to mammals than they are to amphibians.
👍
allonsyyy t1_iu15ou9 wrote
I used to find these hiking when I was a kid! My dad said they were blue-tailed skinks tho, guess he got the name a bit wrong. I was always excited to find them, and salamanders. Never see either of them anymore. I guess I don't spend as much time looking under rocks anymore, either.