We have previously written an article on “List of Most Expensive Reptiles in the World,” and people love it the most. Therefore to continue that part of the post, here we have come up with another explanatory article on the Top 10 Most Expensive Lizards in the world that are very difficult to afford, at least for me right now.
But here, before proceeding, let us state that here we are considering only lizards, not salamanders. Most people consider them the same, but it’s precisely the opposite. The primary difference is Lizards are reptiles and terrestrial with rough skin, whereas Salamanders are amphibians with moist and non-scaly skin.
Lizards are an ancient group of reptiles with particular adaptations and traits depending on their habitat. They are not dinosaurs, although they have developed nearly the same characteristics. There are over 7000 lizard species discovered now, and each has distinct adaptations like Lizards with four legs, two legs, or no legs, lizards with horns, lizards with frills, and lizards with wings.
We hope that it will clear your doubts. So, below we have provided you with an overview of the most expensive lizards from all around the world. This list is not arranged and is only to give you some reference.
- New Caledonian Giant Gecko- $500-$600
- Black Throat Monitor- $600-$800
- Brazilian Galliwasp- $600+
- Spiny-Necked Monitor- $1300-$1600
- Blue Tree Monitor- $1700-$1900
- Omani uromastyx- $900-$1000
- Arboreal Alligator Lizard- $1200+
- Shingleback skink- $2000+
- Crocodile Monitor- $1,999-$2999
- Chinese crocodile lizard- $3000+
- Centralian Blue Tongue Skinks- $1,500- $5,000
- Black Dragon Water Monitor- $1,799-$3,500
- Perentie Monitor Lizard- Up to $10,000 (outside Australia)
- Super Bell’s Phase Lace Monitor- $7500-$12,500
- Earless Monitor Lizard- up to $25,000
- Tokay Gecko- $33,000- $100,000+
- Adult Male Rhino Iguana- $2000+
Note- We are not breeders; these prices are based on online sales shown on Google. Prices may differ depending on region to region. Here, we have taken the reference of BlackWaterReptiles and UndergroundReptiles. Also, this post is only for educational purposes.
Top 10 Most Expensive Lizards Worldwide
10) Shingleback skink
- Price- $2000+
- Scientific Name- Tiliqua rugosa
- Size- 12 to 18 inches long
- Life Span- 10 to 15 years
The Shingleback lizard, also known as Bobtail lizard, is a short tail lizard endemic to Australia, that’s why it is costlier worldwide. These lizards can be ranged in different colors from dark brown with yellow spots to cream and black. Hence, there can be variations in the prices depending on their size and color.
Shingleback has a triangular head, and the design of its tail is also similar by storing more fat. It is because it confuses the predators about its actual head; that’s why its name is also “two-headed skink.” These lizards show sexual dimorphism where the overall body-size females are larger than males.
9) Adult Male Rhino Iguana
- Price- $2000+
- Scientific Name- Cyclura cornuta
- Size- 24 to 54 inches long
- Life Span- 15 to 17 years
Rhinocerous Iguana is an endangered species native to the Caribbean Islands of Hispaniola. The price of a Rhinoceros Iguana differs from region to region, size, and gender; for example, an Adult Male Rhino Iguana can cost more than $2000. The main reason behind their population decline is deforestation and other involvement of humans.
Rhinoceros Iguanas are primarily found in greenish-brown or grayish-brown color with a bony-plated pseudo-horn on the top of its nose that looks like the horn of a rhinoceros. These lizards majorly feed on leaves, flowers, berries, and fruits from different plant species.
8) Crocodile Monitor
- Price- $1,999-$2999
- Scientific Name- Varanus salvadorii
- Size- upto 96 inches long
- Life Span- 10 to 20 years
Crocodile Monitors, also known as Papuan monitor and Salvadori’s monitor, are one of the longest monitor lizards endemic to New Guinea. These monitor lizards have dark green bodies with yellow spots from head to tail.
The primary characteristics are a blunt snout and a very long tail. These monitors are not actually too big compared to Komoda dragons, but some specimens have been claimed to exceed the length of Komoda dragons only because of a long tail. Crocodile Monitor primarily feeds on birds, bats, rodents, and other monitor lizards.
7) Chinese Crocodile Lizard
- Price- $3000+
- Scientific Name- Shinisaurus crocodilurus
- Size- 16 to 18 inches long
- Life Span- 10 to 12 years
Chinese Crocodile Lizards are dark brown lizards with red, yellow, and cream color patterns endemic to southeastern China and northeastern Vietnam. These lizards are semiaquatic and spend most of their time underwater hunting insects, snails, and tadpoles.
They are classified as Endangered species and listed under CITES Appendix I. Chinese Crocodile Lizards are one of the most beautiful lizards.
6) Black Dragon Water Monitor
- Price- $1,799-$3,500
- Scientific Name- Varanus salvator macromaculatus
- Size- 1.5 to 3 meters long
- Life Span- 11 to 25 years
Black Dragon Water Monitors are one of the largest lizards in the world. These are basically water monitors, and they attain a solid black color due to a genetic mutation. That’s why they are very costly in many regions.
The primary diet of Black Dragon Water Monitor is rodents, frogs, small fish, eggs, etc. Their other common names are Black Asian Water Monitor and Black Water Monitor.
5) Centralian Blue Tongue Skink
- Price- $1,500- $5,000
- Scientific Name- Tiliqua multifasciata
- Size- 15.5 and 17.5 inches long
- Life Span- 15 to 20 years
Centralian blue-tongued skink or Centralian blue-tongue is a species of skink that is predominantly pale brown in color with orange bands and a blue tongue native to Australia.
It has a short and robust body with a slender tail and shiny orange scales all over it, making them very beautiful. The price of these skinks varies worldwide depending on region, size, and gender. Centralian Blue Tongue Skink mainly feeds on seeds, insects, and dung.
4) Perentie Monitor Lizard
- Price- Up to $10,000 (outside Australia)
- Scientific Name- Varanus giganteus
- Size- 1.5 to 2.5 meters long
- Life Span- 15 to 19 years
The largest Monitor Lizard in Australia is Perentie Monitor Lizard which can grow up to 2.5 meters long and weighs over 44lb. These monitor lizards are slightly venomous.
They have a yellow color body with black patterns all over it. These lizards can be found at low prices in Australia, but they are very difficult to export; that’s why the prices can go up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
3) Super Bell’s Phase Lace Monitor
- Price- $7500-$12,500
- Scientific Name- Varanus Varius
- Size- 1.5 to 2 meters long
- Life Span- 10 to 15 years
Another monitor lizard native to Australia is Lace Monitor. Super Bell’s Phase Lace Monitor lizards are in solid black and yellow color, making them one of the most beautiful lizards.
Females are slightly smaller than males. These monitor lizards can weigh up to 30lb. Super Bell’s Phase Lace Monitors are very expensive lizards and can be sold for more than ten thousand dollars depending on the breed, size, location, and season.
2) Earless Monitor Lizard
- Price- up to $25,000
- Scientific Name- Lanthanotus borneensis
- Size- upto 16 inches long
- Life Span- 7 to 10 years
Another expensive lizard is Earless Monitor Lizard. This lizard is a rare semi-aquatic reptile with unique defining features like hidden ears, rough-textured brown color body, and light blue eyes.
Unlike other lizards, they cannot regrow their tail if it’s lost or cut. It is illegal to search Earless Monitor Lizard species from the wild, and that’s why they are costly.
1) Tokay Gecko
- Price- $33,000- $100,000+
- Scientific Name- Gekko gecko
- Size- 8-12 inches
- Life Span- up to 10 years
A common gecko can be listed for around $150 to $300. But here we are referring to true geckos that are supposed to have descended from the family group of dragons. Its biological parts are used as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine known as “Ge Jie.”
It is also believed that this medicine can help in curing cancer and other lung infection. According to “The New Indian Express,” this lizard can be priced between $33,000- $100,000+ in the international market of wildlife, depending upon size and maturity.
Here, we conclude our article on “Top 10 Most Expensive Lizards Worldwide.” We hope you like and learn something from this post. If you find new information regarding this topic, kindly mention it in the comment box. We will discuss this in the article. Till then, stay healthy and tuned with us.
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Monty is a founder of How It See. Being a life science student in a reputed university, he always wonders about an eclectic correlation between science and nature. After engaging in various college projects, Monty determined to share all his knowledge with you as a writer. In the meantime, he loves to research and study about the various types of colorful animals.