[sunshineband]

Found a local colony of lizards here that are so used to people feeding them that they dash forward over the rocks as you approach... wonderful experience, and we now take them fruit every day.  A little remeiscent of those snales chasing a baby iguana though... not for the faint hearted!

(Tenerife Southern Wall Lizards)

[8doubles]

I recall that back in the 70s small lizards used to infest the crazy golf course of the shiny new hotel in Tenerife we stayed at .
They were far too fast to be troubled by golf balls !

[sunshineband]

I recall that back in the 70s small lizards used to infest the crazy golf course of the shiny new hotel in Tenerife we stayed at .
They were far too fast to be troubled by golf balls !

These big boys are about a foot long, although there are younger ones with them too, plus stripy females. Quite a sight

[mumofstig]

I loved seeing the small green ones that live anywhere rocky in Greece, but don't think I'd like being near your bigger ones tbh.
They look a bit more threatening tbh   

[sunshineband]

I think you'd only need to worry if you are an insect, or of course a small piece of fruit. Mr S thinks he can probably hand feed them with pieces of banana... I'll let you know how that goes 

The males all seem to have individual designs of blue spots, which means  you can identify them. The females all seem the same stripy pattern though

[8doubles]

Tenerife bananas are the best !

[sunshineband]

Tenerife bananas are the best !

Well the lizards agreed with you alright! They wolfed down chunks this morning, with lots of squabbling and more noise than I thought lizards could make. Abi hand fed one, but didn't brave the big boys, that looked a bit like they could give you a bit of a nip. One even ventured into my handbag on the wall, looking for more fruit. Just the rustling of a polybag is enough to bring them running.

[mumofstig]

Shudders 

[New shoot]

Abi hand fed one, but didn't brave the big boys, that looked a bit like they could give you a bit of a nip.

Having kept reptiles as pets before, I've been bitten and it was always associated with food.  If they are squabbling and arguing, bananas are a prize and that might make them extra grabby.   They could just lunge without looking too carefully at where their mouths are heading.

Most fruit and veg eating ones have teeth that are small, but needle-like and they chew by mashing their food against the roof of their mouths.  It is a crushing bite and surprisingly strong, so its not great if they get hold of your finger by mistake.

[snowdrops]

They look very scary to me, don’t think I’d be getting close enough to hand feed them. They look like those Komodo dragons (think Bond films lol)