What is this odd-looking fellow?
A friend of mine wanted to know what anole species this was invading the southeastern U.S., and whether it was a threat to the green anole, Anolis carolinensis. Of course, it is nothing more than a large green anole, but it shows how transformed they are when they become agitated. The enlarged dorsal crest on the neck–bright green–and the black spot behind the eye–classic signs of a male engaged in an aggressive confrontation. Understandable how someone could have mistaken it for a different species.
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.
Latest posts by Jonathan Losos (see all)
Rich Glor
I love that lime green accent on this guy’s crest.
apou
This is an old battle hardened male in my garden. Not sure if it is a porcatus/carolinensis hybrid, but they have become very common in some areas of south Dade-County Florida in the last five years or so.
apou
Photo didn’t post