Possible Dumeril's living at creek

[kap10cavy]

I just heard a facinating story. It seems a lizard about 1-1/2 feet long has been spotted in backyards and basking by a creek near my house. From the description it sounds like someones Dumeril's monitor has gotten loose or turned loose.
One lady told me it was digging in her garden and eating worms. She said it was almost all black with a bright red head.
She's claimed to have seen it 4 times in the past 2 weeks.
One of the other nighboors said he say it at the creek eating crawfish. I guess he's making the best of his habitat.
Now, how can I catch it before some hawk, bobcat or racoon has it for dinner?

Scott

[nicola_boulton]

lucky! quicky go find it! Keep us posted

[crocdoc]

Broad headed skink, Eumeces laticeps, most likely. Big skink, native to the southeastern US, gets to around a foot (reptile sizes are always exaggerated by non-herpers, so 1 foot would translate to 1.5-3 feet in someone else's eyes), has a red head. Not likely to be seen fishing for crayfish, but then again you'd be lucky to actually see a wild monitor do that, so I'd say that was a bit of imaginative narrative.

[mbayless]

In addition to what DK said, which is absolutely correct - Varanus dumerilii hatchlings do have red heads but these quickly fade to brown color 5-7 weeks after hatching, so I doubt it is a subadult V. dumerilii; However there is a reliable report of an unknown Varanus from Indonesia with a red head, and a valid report of a red-headed/colored V. prasinus as well...

cheers,
markb

[kap10cavy]

Well, since I'm in Alabama, not Indonesia I doubt it's a new species lol.
I was told some one took a pic and will let me see it when they get it developed.
I'll let you know something when I do.

Later
Scott

[mbayless]

It would be cool to see a red-headed V. dumerilii - look forward to seeing the pic(s)...

[reptiguy123]

It would.