Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
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The Green Anole is an arboreal diurnal lizard frequently seen in the Garden. Although the name implies it is green, anoles can change to brown as well. This ability has given them the common name of chameleon (although they are not related to true chameleons, which live in Africa). The color changes are accomplished by hormones and are triggered by temperature, camouflage needs, or emotions. When an anole is cold, on brown bark, or losing a fight, it turns brown. Warmer temperatures, green foliage and dominant behavior make it turn green. The male pictured above shows the green phase while the female below is in the brown.
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Anoles, like all other lizards and snakes, shed their skin as they grow. Unlike snakes, which molt their entire skin at once, that of the lizard tends to come off in paper-like pieces, which the reptile often eats. The photo below at left shows an anole shedding its skin.
Male anoles are quite territorial and will threaten intruders with a display of their throat flap or dewlap, as shown below at right. They also do this when courting females.
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class: Reptilia / order: Squamata / family: Iguanidae / genus: Anolis / species: carolinensis
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