Green Anole

Anolis carolinensis

Reptiles & Amphibians10.16 to 20.32 cmIn the app

The green anole is a medium-sized lizard with an average length range of 5-8 inches. The females have smaller body size in comparison to the male but both male and female…

How to identify

The green anole is a medium-sized lizard with an average length range of 5-8 inches. The females have smaller body size in comparison to the male but both male and females have long tails that take more than half of the total body length. Scale pigmentation varies among the green anoles, but it is most common to see them in shades of brown, green or gray depending on environmental conditions (they are capable of color changes). The browner ones usually have faint markings on the back. Female anoles have a stripe that runs along the back from the neck and ends where the tail begins. Males have pink dewlaps and display it to court females.

Range

The green anole occurs throughout most of the southern United States but absent in the mountains. Its range goes north through the coastal plains of North Carolina and throughout South Carolina, then west to Texas and south through Florida. The range includes Georgia but exempts the Blue Ridge region. There are introduced species in Hawaii, Ogasawara Islands of Japan, in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Guam.

Habitat

The green anole is naturally arboreal but can still be found roaming the ground. They are frequently seen on trees and shrubs in their vicinity and refer places where prey is available. They are very common in suburban areas and can be frequently seen on steps, railings, fence posts, and building sides and other human dwellings. Breeding occurs in April through August. The females lay an average of six to nine eggs per year. The eggs are laid into moist soil and hatches in seven weeks. This anole is generally insectivorous with a wide appetite; they eat beetles, flies, spiders and some arthropods. But they also eat mollusks, grain, and seeds.

Variations

There is one variant of this species: Anolis carolinensis seminolus. These subspecies often have white or gray dewlaps.

Similar species

The brown anole or Anolis sagrei is different by the darker brown coloration and its range. A. carolinensis also has a pink throat fan and A. sagrei has a reddish to orange one flecked with yellow. Knight Anole or Anolis equestris is much bigger, in fact it us the largest species of anole, with an average length range of 13-20 inches. This lizard differs by its bright green coloration and the two yellow stripes on the shoulder and side of the head respectively. Bark Anole or Anolis distichus can be distinguished by its small size (5.0 inches) and its pale yellow or cream-white dewlap. Some specimens display yellow-edged red dewlaps.