There’s been discussion about blue anoles previously on Anole Annals, but I’ve come across yet another on the internet. The anole in the above picture is a species from the Sierra de Bahoruco in the Dominican republic. Apparently it has not been formally described yet and so does not yet have a name, but from the looks of it I would say it was related to A.alliniger or singularis. This actually leaves Puerto Rico as the only island without a blue trunk-crown anole. I have found one other picture of this species on Flickr (though it does not allow for posting on other web pages).
Below is another photo from the Anolis Contact Group, of yet another new species that appears to be related to singularis.
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Pat Shipman
A beauty!
Daniel Scantlebury
I don’t believe it is appropriate to label these images as undescribed species.
Rich Glor
I agree. Just because something has different colors from the animals you’ve seen before doesn’t mean its a new species. Both Anolis singularis and A. aliniger have interesting ranges and vary in appearance across their ranges. I suspect that people will try to describe some populations in the Bahorucos and Martin Garcia as different species, but I hope they will only do so after completing the thorough phenotypic and molecular genetic analyses that are required for accurate diagnosis of species boundaries. Also, you misspelled A. aliniger in your post.
K.ra
I am aware of all the blue forms of green anoles out there (particularly of A.grahami, which I have seen) but the Anolis Contact group website (where I first found the picture) listed it as ‘Anolis species novum‘ so that was all that I had to go by. What I mean to say in the post is that so far the only resource for information on the phenotype shown in the photo has identified it as a new species.
Regarding the spelling; I wasn’t sure exactly what the correct spelling was as I have come across it spelled both ways. Thank you for pointing that out.
Daniel Scantlebury
Also, it’s inappropriate to use coloration from emaciated and sickly, sleeping animals as a diagnostic feature.
Gabriela Ziolkowski
Yes, he looks like someome put him in a cage
Martha Muñoz
I agree with Dan. Blue lizards that are otherwise similar to recognized green species might represent rare mutants, like gray-dewlapped Anolis carolinensis.
Ron Savage
Hi, I recently photographed an interesting anole that looks similar (although not nearly as blue) to the one posted here at Forets de Pins on the Haiti side. I post all my observations on inaturalist.org at the following link. If anyone wants to help identify this or any other of my postings I would be greatful.
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/295952
I’m also attaching a jpeg.
I’ve previously seen an A. armouri/cybotes type in the same area on Agaves; however this one was different. I recently went on trips to two new areas, but have yet to post on inaturalist.org, so there might be a couple interesting observations in the pipeline.
thanks, rs
Miguel Landestoy
Ron,
Both aliniger and singularis are found in La Selle region, although the former does not extend farther west. They are pretty similar, I wonder if you managed to capture/collect the animal in the photo? Any close ups to the dewlap and its scales? The axila, as others already indicated, is a good character to be checked. It is “scaleless” with an orange or black spot (as its name referes). To me, singularis has a longer snout, and the one in your photo does not show that, but may be due the angle of photo. There is plenty of variation on these things, so it is really a challenge ID them in situ, without capturing them.
M.A.
Ron Savage
Hola Miguel,
Thank you for your feedback and info.. Unfortunately, I only take photographs and not live specimens. Usually I try to get dewlap shots of anything that isn’t easily identifiable but this fellow was uncooperative. I hope to head back to Forets de Pins in a couple weekends and down to Anse a Pitre, so I’ll look for additional specimens.
I plan on being in the Polo, DR area this weekend. I have a red Nissan Pathfinder Haiti plates CD-088. I would love to meet you at some point. I’ve seen a lot of your excellent photography. Bueno, que tenga suerte, hasta luego, Ron
Miguel A. Landestoy
Ron,
I am in the capital taking classes, but I may go this weekend to my hometown Bani, so it is closer to Barahona. My e-mail is mango_land@yahoo.com. There we could coordinate, or please leave me your phone number.
Have a nice stay in the land where todo es posible!
Miguel A. Landestoy
Gracias/thanks for the feedback on my photography. It is not actually me, is the nature of the island!