Family: Polychrotidae, Anoles view all from this family
Description 5-8" (12.7-20.3 cm). A slender lizard with extensible pink throatfan, large toe pads. Snout long, wedge-shaped. Small dorsal crest immediately behind the head that is only visible during threat display. Usually green, but in seconds can change to brown or intermediate colors. Tail round.
Subspecies Northern Green Anole (A. c. carolinensis), found throughout range. Southern Green Anole (A. c. seminolus), only in southern Florida.
Breeding Mates March to September. Single eggs are laid every 14 days, April to September, in leaf litter, trash, rock piles, moist debris. Incubation takes 5-7 weeks.
Habitat Arboreal. Encountered on vertical surfaces like fence posts and walls; but favors tree boles, shrubs, vines, tall grasses, palm fronds.
Range S. Virginia to the Florida Keys; west to c. Texas and Oklahoma.
Discussion Diurnal, but easily collected by night with the aid of a light; moisture on the skin makes these anoles shine as though covered with reflecting yellow paint. Adults prefer shaded perches. Juveniles prefer sunnier locations closer to ground. Basking anoles are typically brown; fighting males turn green with a black patch behind the eyes. They slowly stalk their prey: flies, beetles, moths, spiders, even small crabs.
