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The Sibley Guide to Birds contains marvelous illustrations originally drawn by the author using watercolors. This is a great identification guide, not only for adult birds, but juveniles, also. |
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Green Anole - Smith Oaks Sanctuary, High Island, TX
(Note the "throat fan" under this little guy's
chin!)
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A
striking feature of the Green Anole is the "throat
fan" which is a flap of skin attached to the throat
and extending onto the chest. It is swung forward by a flexible
rod of cartilage attached near the middle of the throat.
Males have large throat fans. The fan is displayed, often
accompanied by push-ups and head-bobbing, during courtship
and in defense of territory.
Green
Anoles climb high into trees, out of which they may tumble,
especially when chasing one another, without harmful effects.
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Physical
Description of
Green Anoles:
Body
Length:
5 - 8 inches
Head
- Body Maximum:
2-15/16 inches
The
Green Anole is a small lizard with a narrow head and a long,
slender tail that can be twice as long as the rest of its
body.
Green Anoles are often seen on fences, around old buildings,
on shrubs, vines, and trees, and less often on the ground.
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Green
Anoles on an old building - High Island, TX
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The
Green Anole is capable of exhibiting browns, grays and greens.
The ability to change color is well developed. The changes
are the result of the movement of pigment granules within
the cells of the skin and in response to such stimuli as temperature,
humidity, emotion and activity. |
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Green
Anole - Smith Oaks Sanctuary, High Island, TX
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Anoles
have pads on their toes that aid in climbing, but they are less
adept at negotiating smooth vertical surfaces than some of the
geckos.
Anoles are arboreal but they also forage on the ground. Their
food, which they swallow whole, consists largely of insects
and spiders.
Misnamed "Chameleon" often sold in pet stores, the
plain green hue and pink throat fan combined with overall small
size, distinguish the green anole from all other lizards.
There may be a pattern in the form of dark streaks or spots.
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little camera-shy anole took cover under the nearest large
object that he could see - a hiking boot. |
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Green Anole - High Island, TX
Nap time! |
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The
Anoles, with more than 250 species, constitute the largest genus
of lizards in the world. They are especially abundant in the
tropics.
Only
one species, the Green Anole, is native to the continental United
States.
MOST
WILD ANIMALS MAKE VERY POOR PETS AND ARE BEST OBSERVED IN THEIR
NATIVE HABITAT.
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