Help identify lizard..

[Evan Platt]

I've seen this 'guy' a few times now, and finally got around to
snapping a picture.

Somewhat mellow, I could have probably picked him (her?) up. I
initially thought he might have been injured as I could move him a
bit, but then later came back out and it was gone...

Loading Image...

Baby? Adult? Anything to be worried about? It's in Sunnyvale,
California.

Thanks. :)

Evan

[Hal Murray]

Post by Evan Platt
I've seen this 'guy' a few times now, and finally got around to
snapping a picture.
Somewhat mellow, I could have probably picked him (her?) up. I
initially thought he might have been injured as I could move him a
bit, but then later came back out and it was gone...
http://www.espphotography.com/lizard.jpg
Baby? Adult? Anything to be worried about? It's in Sunnyvale,
California.

Looks like a newt. Reasonably common around here. They
breed in slow moving streams and wander around when it's damp
looking for mates.

Try googling for California-Newt. (That's a name, not a location.)

[Evan Platt]

Post by Hal Murray
Looks like a newt. Reasonably common around here. They
breed in slow moving streams and wander around when it's damp
looking for mates.
Try googling for California-Newt. (That's a name, not a location.)

Thanks Hal. That appeas to be the newt I found.

Poisonous - perhaps I'll find another choice for a pet. :)

Evan

[Hal Murray]

Post by Evan Platt

Post by Hal Murray
Try googling for California-Newt. (That's a name, not a location.)

Thanks Hal. That appeas to be the newt I found.
Poisonous - perhaps I'll find another choice for a pet. :)

Interesting. Thanks for the heads up.

I don't remember any comment about them being poisonous.
No mention of it in the Audubon Reptile/Amphibian book.
I'm pretty sure I've handled them - mostly just herding them
back so I can get a photo. A friend who is a naturalist
picked one up a few weeks ago.

Google gets enough hits to be credible, including a photo
of some type of newt with white spots.

[Evan Platt]

Post by Hal Murray
I don't remember any comment about them being poisonous.
No mention of it in the Audubon Reptile/Amphibian book.
I'm pretty sure I've handled them - mostly just herding them
back so I can get a photo. A friend who is a naturalist
picked one up a few weeks ago.
Google gets enough hits to be credible, including a photo
of some type of newt with white spots.

Yup.. a few of the google results mentioned it, so I think that's
warning enough for me.

:)

[Chris McMartin]

Post by Evan Platt
Baby? Adult? Anything to be worried about? It's in Sunnyvale,
California.

Not a lizard, but a salamander. I'm not a big salamander guy, but check out

http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/salamanders.html

I'd guess an _Ensatina_ of some sort. It's not a newt (_Taricha_); the skin
isn't granular.

[mel turner]

Post by Evan Platt
I've seen this 'guy' a few times now, and finally got around to
snapping a picture.
Somewhat mellow, I could have probably picked him (her?) up. I
initially thought he might have been injured as I could move him a
bit, but then later came back out and it was gone...
http://www.espphotography.com/lizard.jpg
Baby? Adult? Anything to be worried about? It's in Sunnyvale,
California.
Thanks. :)

Arboreal Salamander, _Aneides lugubris_.
An adult.

http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/a.lugubris.html
http://www.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=Aneides+lugubris&btnG=Search

IIRC, if picked up carelessly they are capable of a painful bite
that might even draw a little blood, but are otherwise harmless.

Hope this helps.