All anoles are amazing and unique, but some just go above and beyond others.

Anolis vermiculatus (previously seen here), the Cuban aquatic or stream anole, is a semi-aquatic anole endemic to Cuba and one of two anoles that completely lacks a dewlap (the other being Anolis bartschi).

The males can have an SVL of up to 123mm making them a large anole, and the females are smaller at 83mm. They live near streams in dense vegetation and eat (in addition to insects) plant matter, small fish, frogs, crayfish and freshwater shrimp. Like another anole, Anolis pulchellus, the Cuban aquatic anole is able to run across the surface of water to escape predators, aided by the hydrophobic skin that anoles have. Cuban stream anoles are incredibly skittish so in addition to running across the water, they may just jump into it when disturbed or threatened, staying submerged for long periods of time.

Photos: Shea Lambert

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