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Wildlife Wonderings – Green and Brown AnolesSummer is approaching at Jesse Jones Park & Nature Center. That means our anoles will be out and about again. Yes, BOTH species! Our native Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) and our introduced species the Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) may be easily observed in various locations around the park.
The Green Anole originates from 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. Adult males are usually 4.9–9.0 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, with 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. The outer layer contains yellow-colored xanthophores, under which lies a layer of reflective iridophores. The melanophores, which carry black pigment, are the deepest layer. It is the melanophores which are responsible for the color change in anoles. When the melanin pigment is concentrated in one location within each cell, the lizards look green; but when the melanophore-stimulating hormone – which is released by the pituitary gland – triggers the dispersal of 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 depends on sun and temperature. Anoles use visual cues as their primary signaling mode.
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.
However, that is not our only anole species. We now have the Brown Anole.
Native to Cuba, Cayman Islands, Honduras and The Bahamas, it has been reported from 14 states, and is established in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas. Anolis sagrei was first documented in the Florida Keys in the 1880s and by the 1940s it was introduced and became established in South Florida. The specific name, sagrei, is in honor of Spanish botanist Ramón de la Sagra. The Brown Anole has been well established in Georgia for decades and specimens have been collected from Houston since 1987. Expansion of habitat range has been aided by accidental transport via motor vehicles and as accidental introductions (particularly as eggs) with transported live plants have been suggested as the likely source of these introductions.
Brown Anoles live on average 4–5 years in the wild but have been known to survive up to 8 years in captivity, though reaching this age is uncommon. They reach sexual maturity one year after hatching and typically breed in the summer months (depending on the climate) from March-April to August-September. After breeding, the female will lay 1–2 eggs every 7–14 days, burying and then abandoning them. If viable, the eggs will hatch about seven weeks later, and the hatchlings that survive do so entirely by instinct.
Males tend to intimidate each other with displays such as pushups, head-bobbing, and dewlap extension while only rarely engaging in physical attacks. In places where they are native, Green Anoles are far more likely to retreat from an engagement with a Brown Anole. Because they compete for common food, primarily arthropods which are at ground level, the Green Anoles retreat to canopies where they are less likely to encounter each other. Brown Anoles feed on small arthropods such as crickets, moths, ants, grasshoppers, cockroaches, mealworms, spiders, and waxworms.
The Brown Anole sports patterned skin and a dark stripe down its back; small yellow spots adorn some males. A male grows a crest, called a “roach,” with which, along with its reddish-orange, yellow-bordered dewlap, both impresses females and challenges males. A male often turns sideways, presumably to present a clear image of its prominent roach and dewlap. An aggressive Brown Anole, displaying its dewlap, may turn black. Relaxing, it returns to its lighter shade, one more conducive to camouflage. They never turn green. The brown anole lizard shows a red/brown dewlap which is dark in color. Females may exhibit lighter-colored dewlaps. The Brown Anole is able to change colors, though it remains brown with stripes, bars or spots on its back. Brown Anoles are able to change hues subtly. A brown anole being aggressive will change the color of dewlap to black, when relaxed the anole may lighten in shade.
Brown Anoles molt in small pieces, unlike some other reptiles, which molt in one large piece. Anoles may consume the molted skin to replenish supplies of calcium. In captivity, the molted skin may stick to the anole if humidity is too low. The unshed layer of skin can build up around the eyes, preventing the lizard from feeding and may lead to starvation. This can be prevented by maintaining high humidity.
As a defense mechanism, the Brown Anole can detach most of its tail when pursued or captured (autotomic). The piece that breaks off will continue to move, possibly distracting the predator and allowing the anole to escape. The lost tail will partially regrow. If provoked, the Brown Anole will bite, urinate, and defecate. Also, some Brown Anoles may do a short hiss if caught, injured, or fighting. Predators include rats, snakes, birds and many larger animals such as cats.
To learn more about these fascinating lizards, be sure and visit Jesse Jones Park & Nature Center on Wednesday, May 20 at 12 p.m. for Wildlife Wonderings. This program is free of charge and open to lizard lovers of all ages.
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