Observations On Anolis Garmani In Florida

Editor’s Note: A report from the Sunshine State

I was asked to report on my most recent Anolis garmani exploits here in South Florida, So here goes. Remember, I’m not a scientist, or an author, just a funny old man with whiskers!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

An old friend had asked me to find him a few “Nice Green Anoles.” His intent, I believe, was to have me supply Anolis carolinensis for him to breed.

OOPS!!!

He received 1.2 young adult Anolis garmani!

My friend is handicapped & lives on a fixed income. He is also a very knowledgeable (& well known in certain circles) Herper. I thought he might enjoy these highly intelligent &, at times, PRECOCIOUS creatures!

SO!

I left work early, cuz I can do things like that! I know of several populations of Anolis garmani, from Southern Dade Co. to Northern Palm Beach Co., other than the colony at All-America Park. I decided to visit one in North Dade Co. ½ way between work & my friend’s house.

In the populations that I know of there are several types:

1) Green with a dark (½) tail & a red blotch on the top of the head

2) Green with powder blue ½ tail or more & blue bands. With or without the red blotch on head

3) Vivid green, almost always a female

Anolis garmani is a very intelligent & inquisitive animal. They become accustomed to humans & will allow you to get quite close.

A few friends & I try to visit all of these colonies as often as life allows. We check to see how healthy the colonies are & approximate numbers, & just watch.

We also bring various food items for them too.

Anolis garmani will eat just about anything that moves & they can swallow!

I don’t know anyone personally that has seen cannibalism, but I don’t doubt that a large A. garmani would eat a smaller one.

Although, adult females are quite a bit smaller than adult males, & they have no problems.

It’s also common in captivity to see hatchlings within full view of adults in the same  enclosure. And NO, I don’t know anyone that has tried to raise hatchlings in the same enclosure with adults.

I do know that A. garmani will eat A. sagrei.

Green guana, as they call A. garmani in Jamaica, chowing on a brown anole.

When my friends & I offer crickets, smaller or younger animals stay away from larger animals.

Also adult males seem to forget about territories when food is in abundance. If you leave the cricket box open they will help themselves!

If we have enough patience, & CRICKETS, a few bold animals will become down right SPUNKY!!

Aside from bugs & the occasional unfortunate lizard, A. garmani enjoys Nectar & Fruit! They seem especially fond of Sapodilla, Papaya, Mango, Guava & Banana.

But, they will take huge bites of almost any soft sweet fruit.

In conclusion…..

I feel all Anoles are showoffs at heart, I mean come on! Strut, Push up, Dewlap, Strut, tilt the head & give stink eye, & so on!

They show off & threaten then POSE for a PHOTO!

A few females play it shy & hard to get, but others are just as precocious as the males.

I seem to have run off at the keyboard here, as is my habit if I actually do any writing.

So suffice it to say that I convinced 1.2 of my lil’ friends to relocate to a nice Lake Worth Florida room!

My friends & I made offerings of the remaining crickets & some Sapodilla fruit to the Anole Gods, & went on our way!

Respectfully,

Tom McLellan

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Jonathan Losos

Professor of Biology and Director of the Living Earth Collaborative at Washington University in Saint Louis. I've spent my entire professional career studying anoles and have discovered that the more I learn about anoles, the more I realize I don't know.

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