Anolis carolinensis

Carolina (Green) Anole
File:P1010027.jpg
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Polychrotidae
Genus:	Anolis
Species:	A. carolinensis
Binomial name
Anolis carolinensis Linnaeus, 1758
Subspecies
Anolis carolinensis carolinensis Anolis carolinensis seminolus

The Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis), also known as the green anole, is an arboreal lizard found primarily in the southeastern parts of the United States and some Caribbean islands. It was described by Voigt in 1832 and Carolus Linnaeus in 1758 (as Lacerta principalis, fide Duméril and Bibron 1837: 121). Common synonyms include the American anole and red-throated anole. It is sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its color-changing abilities; however, it is not a true chameleon.

Description

The Carolina anole can reach a total length of about 22-24 cm (8.5-9 in). Females are slightly smaller, about 16 cm (6 in). The male has a dewlap–pink or light red in color–that can be extended from the chin as a courtship or territorial display. This dewlap display is often accompanied by head bobbing and "pushups." Green Anoles can have a green or a brown body color, depending on mood, time of day, surroundings, and temperature, with a white underbelly. Most females also exhibit a dewlap, yet are often not as large or colorful as the full-fledged adult male anoles.

As a defense mechanism, their tails detach with mild force. The lost tail piece is left twitching as a distraction so the lizard may escape safely. Missing tails will regenerate, but the new tail is usually not as functional, and a lizard with a regenerated tail is usually distinguishable from a lizard with its original tail.As the tail is growing the risk for infection is greatly increased. Their eyes move independently of one another, as do those of chameleons.

Distribution

This species is native to North America, where it is found mainly in the southeastern parts of the continent. Anoles are most abundant on the coastal plain from North Carolina to Florida, and west into central Texas, at least as far as San Antonio. They have also been introduced into Hawaii. The species is also relatively popular as a pet. This and most other anole species are rarely bred in captivity, so most specimens sold in the pet trade are wild-caught.

Babies are usually about the size of about a seven year old's thumb and should not be put in a tank that is over 10 gallons. When they hatch it is not uncommon for them to be eaten by the male or even the females in the area, as anoles are by nature solitary animals since birth, so it is not surprising to see the hatchlings even eaten by the mother herself as anoles are not very nurturing let alone motherly or fatherly.

Behavior

Anole licking

Anoles are, by their nature, curious creatures. A healthy lizard usually has a good awareness of its surroundings. The males are very territorial and will fight other males to defend territory. The stress caused by these encounters makes housing a pair of males together impossible. Stress in an anole can be identified by several symptoms. These symptoms include a constant shade of brown and a persistent black semi-circle behind their eyes. A stressed anole may also be lethargic. In a group of one male and several females some aggressive chasing may occur, but the encounters are short lived and less violent than between males. Anoles kept in groups like this need space and hiding places to be happy. 10 gallons of space minimum for each anole is a good rule to follow. During shedding an anole may use its mouth to pull the old skin off and will usually consume it. In addition to discarding their tails, anoles will attempt to bite perceived predators if cornered, which can be somewhat painful, but generally doesn't cause much harm other than some scratching of the bite area caused by the lizard's teeth. The anole will generally let go and attempt to flee if left alone, though will continue to maintain its grip with its jaws as long as a perceived attack (such as trying to pull the animal off) continues.

And then all the Anoles are dead

Breeding/Mating

Baby Anole

The typical breeding season for green anoles starts from as early as April and ends to as late as August and lasts even occasionally into September. It is during this time that the most brilliant displays of these creatures can be seen, as the males must court the females with their elaborate displays of extending their brightly colored dewlaps while bobbing up and down, almost doing a dance for her while she runs in temptation from the male. The pursuit will continue until the two successfully mate. Usually, when the female is ready to mate, she may let the male simply "catch" her and he will thus grasp a hold of a fold of her skin above her neck area, or she will bow her head before him and simply "let" him take his grasp. At this point, the male will position his tail underneath the female's near her vent and the mating ritual will take place.

Anoles mating

After a 2-4 week span following intercourse, the female will lay her first clutch of eggs, usually ranging from 1-2 in the first clutch. She will continue to lay eggs during the season until a total of 10 or so eggs have been produced. When it comes time for her to lay her eggs, she will bury them in the soft soils or compost nearby, and after that she no longer takes any care for it. The egg(s) are left alone to incubate by the light of the sun and if successful will hatch in 30-45 or so days.

The hatchlings must fend for themselves, as anoles are by nature solitary animals since birth and are not cared for by the mother or the father. The young hatchlings must be wary of other adult anoles in the area as well as larger reptiles and mammals, who could just see the newly hatched anole as another mid-day snack. Yet if the young anole survives and manages to escape the many predators that haunt its world, it too will one day become a full-fledged adult.

For breeding anoles in captivity, however, for best results the eggs must be taken out of the adults' enclosure and incubated in moist, not wet, vermiculite at a temperature of around 85 degrees Fahrenheit and around 70% humidity. The eggs will hatch within 35-40 or so days.

Once the eggs hatch, the young should be put into their own separate enclosure (separate from the adults), and the enclosure's temps and humidity levels should match that of the adult anoles. Hatchlings can be fed soft-shelled pinhead crickets, small leaf-hoppers, flightless fruit-flies, and other pesticide-free insects that do not exhibit a hard exoskeleton. The same goes true for adults as well. Pesticide-free insects are a must for anoles, so don't go for bugs in the area if you know that pesticides are sprayed or if you live in a rural area with lots of car exhaust and air pollution that can get on the insect.

Coloration and color morphs

A male green (carolina) anole

Generally, the typical coloration for a green anole ranges from the richest and brightest of greens to the darkest of browns, with little variation in between. There are a few exceptions, however, which are caused when a lack in one of the pigment genes occurs. There are three layers of pigment cells – chromatophores that make up the green anole color spectrum: the xanthophores, responsible for the yellow pigmentation; cyanophores, responsible for the blue pigmentation, and melanophores, responsible for the brown and black pigmentation. The combination of the xanthophores and cyanophores are what make up the different arrays of green seen in the green anole, whereas the melanophores are responsible for its change to brown when the anole is cold or stressed. When there is a lack of one of these pigments, color mutations, or also called "phases," can occur. In particular, this can lead to the incidence of the rare and beautiful blue-phased green anole, which lacks xanthophores, or the yellow pigment that makes up the green hues of the green anole's color spectrum. What results is a blue, often baby or pastel blue, anole. These rare beauties have become a recent popularity in the trade market, yet are often sold for quite a hefty price due to their rarity. When the anole is completely lacking xanthophores, however, it is said to be axanthic. Such specimens are often completely pastel or baby-blue in hue. However, such specimens are extremely rare, usually produced in 1 out of every 20,000 individual anoles in the wild. Other color phases can also occur, such as the yellow-phased green anole, which lacks cyanophores, which are responsible for the blue pigment in the green anole color spectrum. However, none are as popular or as brilliant as the blue-phased green anole. Colonies of these rare color-phased anoles have been reported, but anoles with these color mutations rarely live for long, since the green anole relies on its green and brown camouflage to hunt down prey as well as hide from predators.

Genomics

This species has been chosen as a model reptile for genomics as part of the NHGRI (National Human Genome Research Initiative) genome sequencing program. This species was chosen because of ease and low cost of laboratory breeding, and evolutionary value of the diversity of the genus.

Gallery

• 
  Green Carolina Anole eating dronefly
• 
  Molting Green Anole
• 
  Carolina Anole with dewlap extended
• 
  Male Green Carolina Anole
• 
  Female Green Carolina Anole on a Lily
• 
  Hatchling Anole on a fake flower tree

External links

• Carolina Anole article at the Hilton Pond Center website
• Under The Leaves: Complete Anole Care
• Video of Green Anole enlarging his throat skin or dewlap
• The green anole (Anolis carolinensis): a reptilian model for laboratory studies of reproductive morphology and behavior.
• Anole genome sequencing project at NCBI
• "Anolis carolinensis" at the Encyclopedia of Life