carolina anole

Description:

The Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) is an arboreal lizard found primarily in the southeastern United States and some Caribbean islands. Other common names include the green anole, American anole and red-throated anole. It is sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its ability to change color from several brown hues to bright green; however, many lizards are capable of this, and anoles are not true chameleons. The Carolina is a small lizard; male adults are usually 6 inches long in adulthood, about half of which is its tail, and it can weigh from 3–7 grams (0.11–0.25 ounce). Exceptionally, these anoles can measure up to 20 centimetres (7.9 inches)

Habitat:

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 Atlantic Coastal Plains in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia, and the Gulf Coast in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The species has been introduced into Hawaii and the Ogasawara Islands.

Notes:

Anoles are territorial creatures. Some have even been witnessed fighting their own reflections in mirrored glass. Stress in an anole can be identified by several symptoms, to include chronic lethargy, a persistent black semicircle behind its eyes, and a constant shade of brown.Like many lizards, anoles display autotomic tails so they may escape predation. Anoles also display curiosity. A healthy lizard usually has a good awareness of its surroundings. The male is very territorial and will fight other males to defend its territory.Many times, the other male will be an extremely invasive (Cuban) brown anole. When the non-indigenous brown anole was introduced to the United States, the Carolina anole left its ground-level territories and was relegated to a very different, higher ecosystem up in the treetops.