Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
Common 7
Description 7
The Green Anole is the only native species of anole in the United States. You can recognize it (not surprisingly) by its bright green coloration, but be careful – these "green" lizards can change their skin color to a dark brown. Don't confuse it with the Brown Anole, which is a different species. Remember, Green Anoles can turn brown, but Brown Anoles can't turn green! Similar to most anoles, Green Anoles eat primarily small insects, but they are also known to lick nectar from plants. This species is mostly arboreal (lives in the trees), but occasionally can be found on the ground as well as on bushes, houses, and fences. Males are up to 7.5 cm snout-vent length and females are somewhat smaller.
Key Features 7
Males usually have a bright pink to reddish dewlap, and when displaying they often have a crest along their head and neck and a black patch between their eye and ear opening. Females have a light line along the middle of their back. The only other all green anole in Miami is the Jamaican Giant Anole, which is somewhat larger and has a yellow dewlap. Green Anoles have longer and pointier snouts than other anoles in Miami.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Roberto R. Calderón, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Roberto R. Calderón
- (c) Steve Wells, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Steve Wells
- (c) Milo Pyne, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Milo Pyne
- (c) fullertamu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
- (c) Donna Kaluzniak, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Donna Kaluzniak
- (c) Cosmic Cat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Cosmic Cat
- (c) Chris Thawley, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
