Blackish Lizard found in Kent - What is it?

I picked it up, but only to put it back where the kids found it from, I thought perhaps it may have been pregnant as it's belly appeared swollen (not that I have ever seen a non-swollen one).

could it be a salamander? similar to the newts methinks.

I was walking on a friends farm back in South Africa one day. As I turned the corner toward the river, I came across one of these sunning itself on a rock. Head to tail, it must have been about 8ft with a girth around the stomach of about 3-4 inches...

Very scary when you're not expecting it.

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

I'd say the female of the species is the more spectacularly powerful

I'm all for a powerful female!

Originally Posted by bluefishman

could it be a salamander? similar to the newts methinks.

You're not wrong, they're very similar but unfortunately not native to our lovely island. Also they lack claws and the animal in the creature appears to have little orange ones.

Jdubya, that Komodo looks a tad fearsome, don't know if you saw an episode of David Attenborough's Life series a few weeks ago on Reptiles and Amphibians, some incredible but harrowing footage was taken of these things as the camera crew followed a buffalo over 3 weeks from when it was first poisoned by a Komodo to when it finally fell victim and was eaten alive...Probably still on bbc Iplayer actually.

that programme was insane and very brutal. but i dont think thats a dragon... if it is, its lost...

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

Jdubya, that Komodo looks a tad fearsome, don't know if you saw an episode of David Attenborough's Life series a few weeks ago on Reptiles and Amphibians, some incredible but harrowing footage was taken of these things as the camera crew followed a buffalo over 3 weeks from when it was first poisoned by a Komodo to when it finally fell victim and was eaten alive...Probably still on bbc Iplayer actually.

Yes, I saw the programs, sadly this is just a Liguan, not a dragon.

Originally Posted by custard

that programme was insane and very brutal. but i dont think thats a dragon... if it is, its lost...

Correct, it is in fact a Liguan.

[Richie]

Isn't that a Norwegian Blue? Beautiful plumage!

[Mej]

big fan of reptiles, especially lizards, i was gonna say that i have never seen any lizard like that before, but that def looks like a firebelly.

[Mej]

Originally Posted by Jdubya

I was walking on a friends farm back in South Africa one day. As I turned the corner toward the river, I came across one of these sunning itself on a rock. Head to tail, it must have been about 8ft with a girth around the stomach of about 3-4 inches...

Very scary when you're not expecting it.

He looks awesome, i would love a big monitor, probably gonna get a Argos, Sav or an Ackie next.