Green Anole

1 Overview

The Green Anole is a large arboreal lizard; about 250 species make up the genus Anolis, within the family Dactyloidae (formerly Iguanidae). It looks much like the common gecko, with sharp claws and broad toes; tiny hooks on its toe pads let it crawl freely on very smooth surfaces. It is 12–45 cm long, and the male has a large red or yellow dewlap at the throat. Like a chameleon it can change color, though not as well, so people call it the ‘false chameleon.’ Its color is generally brown or yellow, changing to various shades of green; it lives in warm regions of North and South America, most abundantly in the Caribbean.

Chinese name: Green Anole (Anole)

English name: Green anole

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Reptilia

Subclass: Diapsida, Lepidosauria

Order: Squamata

Family: Dactyloidae (Iguanidae)

Genus: Anolis

Species: Green Anole

Distribution: North and South America

2 Physical Characteristics

Suborder Sauria, family Iguanidae (now Dactyloidae), genus Anolis, about 250 large arboreal species, distributed across warm regions of North and South America, most numerous in the West Indies. Like the gecko, they have broad toes, sharp claws, and toe pads with tiny hooks for climbing, even moving rapidly on extremely smooth surfaces. Body length 12–45 cm (5–18 in); they can change color from brown or yellow to several shades of green. Males often have a large red or yellow dewlap. The best-known is the Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) of the southern U.S. and Caribbean; its color often shifts from green to brown or mottled, but its ability is less than that of the true Old-World chameleon, and pet shops sell the young as ‘false chameleons.’ The Green Anole reaches 18 cm with a pink dewlap. Warm regions of both Americas, most abundant in the West Indies.

The most famous anoles come from the southern U.S. and Caribbean; their color often shifts from green to brown or mottled, but their ability is less than that of the true chameleon. Anoles are large arboreal lizards, living in warm regions of North and South America, most abundantly in the Caribbean. They are a group of large arboreal lizards, about 250 species worldwide in the family Dactyloidae, genus Anolis, distributed mainly in North and South America and the warm Caribbean. All anoles have gecko-like feet covered with tiny hooks; these hooks plus sharp claws let them crawl quickly and agilely on smooth surfaces. They can change color from brown and yellow to several greens. Males have a red or yellow, inflatable dewlap at the throat.

3 Care Guidelines

Anoles are a group of large arboreal lizards; the Green Anole from the southern U.S. and Caribbean grows about 18 cm and is the most common in the New World. Its color sometimes shifts from green to brown or mottled. In pet shops the hatchlings are sold as chameleons, but compared with the true Old-World chameleons they are minor players. A diurnal lizard often called the ‘Green Anole,’ it perches in shrubs and low trees and also appears on fences and walls around homes. Males are 12–20 cm, females usually under 12 cm. Its toes have a sticky film letting it crawl on vertical surfaces. Its color shifts subtly with mood and surroundings; it is often called the ‘American chameleon.’ Males have a pink dewlap; females do not.

The anole, with its superb color-changing ability, is called the American chameleon. It likes to eat crickets and mealworms.

4 Behavior & Habitat

A diurnal lizard often called the ‘Green Anole,’ it perches in shrubs and low trees and also appears on fences and walls around homes. Males are 12–20 cm, females usually under 12 cm; its toes have a sticky film letting it crawl on vertical surfaces. Its color shifts subtly with mood and surroundings, earning the name ‘American chameleon.’ Males have a pink dewlap; females do not. Its color is generally brown or yellow, changing to various greens; it lives in warm regions of North and South America, most abundantly in the Caribbean.

Keep the anole at 28–31°C by day with a basking spot up to 33°C; night 20–25°C (use a daylight lamp by day; at night a red night bulb, infrared heat lamp, or ceramic heater). When too cool it reduces activity; prolonged low temperatures cause digestive problems and other illness. Anoles also need fairly high humidity, about 60–90%, usually kept at 70–80%. Mist the animal and the enclosure once or twice daily to maintain humidity. Dry air harms their health, the result is dry skin, even darkened, shed scales falling off.

5 Feeding Requirements

The Green Anole from the southern U.S. and Caribbean grows about 18 cm and is the most common in the New World. Males are 12–20 cm, females usually under 12 cm; its toes have a sticky film for vertical climbing. Its color shifts subtly with mood and surroundings, earning the name ‘American chameleon.’ A small lizard, it can be fed crickets; if it can swallow them, newborn mice are the most nutritious. Also offer meat, liver, cat food, insects, earthworms, etc. Feeding only insects risks calcium and vitamin deficiency, so add a dedicated nutritional supplement. Together with insects, give a little chopped leafy greens and vegetables. A diurnal lizard, it is active foraging in grass or shrubs by day, basks on the ground or rocks in the morning, and sleeps on grass blades at night.

For anoles, exposure to ultraviolet light is very important. They synthesize vitamin D3 in the skin via UVB, and D3 promotes calcium absorption, reducing the chance of metabolic bone disease (‘soft-bone disease’) and death. Sunlight is best; if natural sunlight is impossible, provide a UVB lamp (especially a UVB tube). Do not shine UV through glass or acrylic, which strongly attenuate it. So let them sunbathe often.