Here in South Florida, we have a lot of little lizards running around, but when I was checking on the garden a few minutes ago, I wasn't expecting to find this hanging on to a tomato cage.  It's about the size of a small iguana, and definitely not the typical salamander-size that are common.  I'm hoping he's getting the tomato horn worms I've been battling!

I seen somthing on tv a few days ago talking about a lizard in fl that is very agressive with razor sharp teeth that has been becoming a problem down there for you folks. Can't remember what the critter was called but it was fast and dangerous. You guys got to be safe just going out the door from what the program was saying.

What in the wide world of sports is that?!?

Send them up here. I need some extra bug control. That is one cool lizard. He is not the razor sharp teeth guy that the program was talking about. The dangerous one is the Nile Monitor Lizard and is dangerous. They can get up to nine feet long!

I did a little research and it took some time to find it, but if I'm correct, it's a "Cuban Knight Anole".  http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/reptiles/knight-anole/

Sent the link to my brother who is a wildlife specialist and manages a swamp in FL before the picture was identified. He said its an exotic and a threat to native wildlife. His suggestion was that you contact your local Ag rep and have him remove it. Alternatively you can contact Steve Johnson at U. FL in Gainsville. Have included a link which provides a bit more info on distribution in FL.  Don't know how close a relative to Ficus Religiosa the figs you grow are, but if close, he may do more than pest control. He might just be tending to his next meal.

oops forgot to include the link. Sorry. http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/reptiles/knight-anole/

He looks awesome. We have a smaller variety of Anole here in NC. We love to watch them run along the fences and puffing out their red throats, like miniature dragons fighting for prime breeding grounds. Ours help keep the bugs down. I don't know about your lizard, but you can bet on one thing - if you have one, you likely have more than one nearby. That said, not sure removing one would make a huge difference. Pandora's Box may not be able to be closed; and if it doesn't hurt your figs, enjoy the show.

I agree with John.
Enjoy the show.
I wish we had more exotic wildlife up here to watch. I have to settle for skinks -- which are quite beautiful but no where near as big as that beauty. He looks big enough to eat the tomato horn worms that just decimated my garden. I didn't tend (my obvious mistake) my tomatoes for 2 or 3 days and now I've lost 2 of 3 plants and the third was chomped to 25% of what it was just a week ago.
So, Figaro -- just put that puppy in a box and send it on up here.

few anole once in awhile.. but nothing like that brute around here. too many invasive species now days.. kill 'em all and let god/allah/buddha/and other deities and what not sort 'em out. and if you are atheist, let 'em just rot and feed the earth. ((hey.. i'm trying to be PC) PC thing is really getting to me now days.. )

When if first saw the picture, my first though was a knight anole. Haven't seen one of those since I worked in a pet store nearly 20 years ago. When he's not happy, he will turn black, just like the little garden anoles.

From the link I posted, it appears that there have been breeding populations of these in South Florida for more than 10 years, and have been known in Florida since 1952.  I'm not going to call anyone to remove it and not going to kill it.  He's welcome to come & go as he pleases, but there are some other predators around here he'll need to be careful of. :)

I was making a delivery near Miami about a year and half ago and I saw one similar to this one.
The colors were spectacular!

It was roughly 15" long.

I say yes, let the little guy alone and do it's thing.

They can get to 20" long.  At that size, decidedly impressive.