Polychrotidae
From Freepedia
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| Image:Green anole.jpg Carolina Anole with dewlap extended | ||||||||||||
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Polychrotidae is a family of lizards commonly known as Anoles. There are four genera: Anolis, Norops, Phenacosaurus and Polychrus.
Contents |
Green Anole
Description: Often mistaken for chameleons, the green anole is a tree-dwelling lizard that is native to the southeastern United States and Caribbean islands. Green anoles are also found in warm climates throughout North and South America.
Often seen in parks and residential areas on walls, fences, trees, and low bushes, green anoles reach a maximum length of six to eight inches. Their bodies are slender, with a long, thin tail. Like true chameleons, green anoles have the ability to change color; this ability is limited in anoles, however--coloration is usually green, yellow, brown, gray, or a mixture. Most healthy, non-threatened anoles are bright green in appearance. The male anole has a large pink fan of skin on its neck, called a dewlap, which can be extended for courtship or territorial display.
Your backyard is perhaps the best place to view wild green anoles. Active during daylight hours, green anoles often sun themselves on walls and branches. Green anoles can also be observed in pet stores where they are sold. Like all lizards, green anoles require special care and a controlled environment if they are to survive in captivity.
Food: Mostly insects and occasionally Brown Anole hatchlings
Habitat: Tree dweller in tropical forests and wooded areas. In the West Indies, occupies the upper trunk and canopy region. In the U.S. green anoles will stay on vegetation for camouflage purposes, but may be closer to ground such as in shrubs, small trees and even lush potted plants.
Lifespan: 2-3 years
Breeding: Mate in late spring to early summer. 1-2 eggs per clutch and several clutches each summer -- about every 10-14 days. Eggs laid in decaying vegetation higher up in trees will take 60-90 days to hatch. Hatchlings must leave and establish their own territories in other trees, and if the canopy is connected, will travel that way. In interrupted woodlands, must come to ground to move to another tree and may be preyed upon there by brown anoles.
Brown Anole
Description: The brown anole is much less cold tolerant than the green anole. Its maximum length is 8.5 inches. Coloring varies from gray, black, brown to very dark brown and sometimes speckled coloration which may vary in hue. Males turn almost black during territorial displays. Females have diamond-shaped patterns down back. Males may display patterns, but never diamond shapes. Dewlaps are red to red-orange with a yellow border. Mature males will also have crest-like ridge along back.
Food: Mostly insects but occasionally green anole hatchlings when they come to the ground.
Habitat: Ground dweller but will venture up several feet into trees and shrubs. Prefers drier areas.
Lifespan: Around 3 years.
Breeding: Mates late spring to early summer. 2 eggs per clutch and several clutches each summer. Eggs laid under decaying vegetation on the ground take 60-90 days to hatch.
General Notes
Active and agile creatures, anoles have specially adapted pads on their feet which permit them to climb, cling, and run on virtually any surface. Another adaptation of the anole is its extremely fragile tail which drops off its body when grabbed, allowing the anole to escape from predators; in time, the anole will regrow a new (although generally shorter) tail. Anoles feed on small insects such as crickets, cockroaches, spiders, moths, and grubs.
Anole lizards usually try to escape predators by running up. When threat displays don't work in establishing territories, males may fight but the battle is usually not fatal for the loser. If a green anole and brown anole fight, green almost always wins and kills brown. Both green and brown anoles shed their skin, but not in a single piece like snakes; instead it flakes off, similar to the way people peel after a sunburn. Anoles frequently recycle (eat) the flakes which are a good source of minerals. Males of both species also do "pushups" or "head popups" as threat gestures and when competing with other males for territory or females. The pushups combined with the dewlap display and ridge (brown anole) down the back make the male anole look larger (size does count in threat displays). Brown anoles will also display their dewlap and do pushups when approached by people. The brown anole is also called the Cuban anole.
