Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) | The American Chameleon

By Walter from Pinellas Park, Florida [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

While spending the last two decades in the Sunshine State I’ve had the pleasure of seeing bright green, sometimes fluorescent green lizards in my yard. Green anole (Anolis carolinensis) or the American Chameleon is hard to spot most of the time as you can only catch a glimpse of green before they retreat to the safety of the foliage. While sitting on my lanai during the spring they travel down the crape myrtles to forage for bugs. They don’t stay long as their alien competition, Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) seems to be stronger and faster and a more aggressive species. These creatures are becoming more and scarcer as the years past, but have been voted as the critter of the year for 2015 by Wild Amelia Nature Festival . I’m voting this species for world lizard day on August 14, 2014.

Green Anole Range & Habitat

Florida isn’t the only place the green anole can be found. Their range is the south-east United States from as far west as Texas and as far north as the Carolinas. This isn’t a surprise as this is where it gets its name, Anolis carolinensis. Even though the green anoles seem to be diminishing in populations in Florida it has flourished in other areas of the world where it’s considered an introduced species. They were first discovered in the state of Hawaii in 1950 and have since become established on Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the Big Island. Green anoles have also hitch hiked their way across the pacific to the Ogasawara Islands of Japan. After knowing this it isn’t a big surprise they’ve also been spotted in the Bahamas, Cuba and Guam.

Green anoles tend to be a more of an arboreal species than the brown anole, especially in my back yard and throughout its range. Catching a glimpse of the bright green camouflage in shade trees is quite hard for the untrained eye. In certain areas you may be able to spot green anoles in tall grass or hedge rows. If the brown anole hasn’t taken over in suburban areas you may also see them on fence posts. I’ve found that this is usually only in the first couple of months of the year.

Physical Appearance

There is no confusion when you see both the green and brown anoles side by side. Green anoles have a slender body and can reach lengths of 4 inches. I find this a rare occurrence and usually see them usually in 2-3 inch range. Their scale colorations can range from green to brown to gray. They have the ability to change coloration as their nickname implies but are not a true chameleon species. These color changes are due to various different factors; temperatures, competition, and their environment are just a few. These changes are caused by the layering of xanthophores, cyanophores, and melanophores with in the chromatophores. Each of these pigmented cells is responsible for their color changes.

Males are typically larger than females, while females typically have a stripe dorsally that runs from their necks to their hips. Males also have a dewlap that can vary in coloration and is one of the most prominent features of telling the difference between sexes.

Breeding

By Tom Adams [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Breeding usually takes place between April and August. Males are very territorial and at times will be observed being more interested in controlling their territory than breeding a female. Females will lay one to two eggs every two weeks throughout the breeding season. The females ovulation cycles will determine how often and the clutch sizes. Females lay eggs in moist soil and the gestation period can last up to 7 weeks.

Feeding and Predation

Green anoles are considered insectivores and can eat almost any insect that will fit in its mouth. There have been reports of green anoles eating grain or seed and the occasional mollusk. Typically they will eat what is in abundance in its range. Cats tend to be a large predator here in Florida. Birds and snakes also feed on green anoles. I tend to see the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) most often feeding on brown anoles in hedge rows or bushes.

Captivity

Green anoles have been a popular staple in many pet shops over the years. I owned a few in my early years and found out quickly that they become stressed and refuse to eat if not provided the correct environment. Stress and dehydration seem to be the biggest killers in selling a green anole to a beginner hobbyist. There are specialized breeders that have successfully reproduced green anoles in captivity and when provided the correct environments can thrive to an old age of 7 years.

Fun Facts

In 2005, green anoles were chosen as the first target species for reptilian genome sequencing.
The brown tree snake has decimated green anole populations on the island of Guam.
The gray dewlap anole (Anolis carolinensis seminolus) is a subspecies of the green anole and was named after the Seminole Indians.

Finding these unique American chameleons in the wild is always the highlight of my day. Their bright green slender body, the ability to change color, and the males interesting dewlaps make this a must see species. If you ever have the chance to sit back and enjoy their company it’s well worth taking the time out of your day to stop and watch.