KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Four bearded dragons and one spiny-tailed agamid were surrendered yesterday under the state's amnesty program for illegal critters. Lisa Yasunaga, land vertebrate specialist with the state Department of Agriculture, held up one of the bearded dragons for display.

Tarantula, 5 lizards
turned in to state

A woman in Hilo said she found
the spider in her new car

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Star-Bulletin staff

A tarantula and five lizards -- illegal alien animals -- were turned in to state Plant Quarantine branches in Hilo and Oahu yesterday.

An unidentified woman turned in a tarantula to the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo in Hilo. She said she found the spider in a car she recently purchased. The zoo handed the venomous arachnid over to the Hilo Plant Quarantine Branch.

The tarantula was transported to Honolulu for identification of species yesterday.

Although the tarantula's bite can be painful, it is not usually lethal to humans.

An unidentified man told officials at the state Department of Agriculture's Plant Quarantine Branch on Oahu he was turning in five foot-long lizards for a friend. He turned in four bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) and a spiny-tailed agamid (Uromastyx aegyptius) under the state's amnesty program.

Bearded dragons, native to Australia, are illegal in Hawaii and are common in the mainland pet trade.

They grow up to 2 feet long, eat insects, flowers, fruit and vegetable matter.

Adults may eat small rodents and invertebrates. Spiny-tailed agamids are related to the bearded dragon, and are native to Northern Africa, India and Arabia.

Persons possessing illegal animals are subject to fines of up to $200,000 and three years in jail. Individuals with illegal pets are encouraged to turn them in under the Amnesty Program.

Anyone with information may call 586-PEST (7378) or the Plant Quarantine Branch at 832-0566.