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Weekend Wildlife - The Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)One of the most popular common residents of Jesse Jones Park is the Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis). This bright green lizard can be encountered throughout the year in a variety of park locations.
To see one of these saurians up close, come to Weekend Wildlife at the Nature Center on Saturday, October 19, from 10-11 a.m. We plan on having live specimens of the Green Anole for viewing and possibly a live Brown Anole as well. Brown Anoles are not a native species (they are an introduced species) but they are often encountered together.
Green Anoles are a species of the large lizard genus Anolis within the family Dactyloidae. More than 380 species of anole lizard have been cataloged. All of these lizards originate from the Caribbean islands except the Green Anole, which is the only species native to the southeastern United States. Its range extends up to North Carolina, as far west as Texas, and south through Florida.
The Green Anole is a small to medium-sized lizard, with a slender body. It reaches about 9 inches in length. Adult males are usually 4.9–8.0 inches long, with about 60-70 percent of which is made up of its tail. The head is long and pointed with ridges between the eyes and nostrils, and smaller ones on the top of the head. The toes have adhesive pads to facilitate climbing. They exhibit sexual dimorphism, the males being fifteen percent larger. The male dewlap (throat fan) is three times the size of the female's and bright red, whereas that of the female is lighter in color, ranging from white to pale pink. Males can extend a pronounced dorsal ridge behind the head when displaying or when under stress. Females have a prominent white stripe running along their spine, a feature most males lack. Commonly -- though incorrectly -- called “chameleons,” anoles change their skin color using cells called chromatophores, which lie in separate layers beneath the anoles’ outer skin. melanin within the cells, the lizards turn brown.
Color varies from brown to green and can be changed like many other kinds of lizards, but anoles are closely related to iguanas and are not true chameleons. Although Anolis carolinensis is sometimes called an 'American chameleon,' true chameleons do not naturally occur in the Americas, and Anolis carolinensis is not the only lizard currently in its area of distribution capable of changing color. In contrast, many species of true chameleons display a greater range of color adaptation, though some can hardly change color at all.
The Green Anole is diurnal and active throughout the year, peaking in spring and fall. Winter activity is dependent on sun and temperature. Anoles use visual cues as their primary signaling mode. They are very visually aware as owners of pet anoles can attest.
Male anoles are strongly territorial creatures. Some have even been witnessed fighting their own reflections in mirrored glass. The male will fight other males to defend his territory. On sighting another male, the anole will compress his body, extend the dewlap, inflate a dorsal ridge, bob his head and attempt to chase the rival away. If the rival male continues to approach, anoles will fight by biting and scratching each other. Serious injury is rare, but males often carry numerous scars on their head and face, especially during the mating season. Their territory, which is about 35 cubic feet, usually includes two to three females.
An anole's diet consists primarily of small insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, flies, butterflies, moths, cockroaches, small beetles, and other arthropods, including spiders, as well as occasionally feeding on various grains and seeds. Although anoles have been observed preying upon smaller reptiles such as juvenile skinks, this is not thought to be typical behavior. Many people who keep these lizards as pets feed them mealworms, grubs, maggots, and small crickets.
This program is open to lizard lovers of all ages and is free of charge and open to the public.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
20634 Kenswick Dr, Humble, TX, United States, Texas 77338
