Anolis garmani in a mango tree post-Hurricane Melissa. Photo by Kathryn Miller.

Inbar Maayan writes:

Kathryn Miller.

As you know, Jamaica was very badly hit by Hurricane Melissa. It made landfall in the southwest part of the island and cut across through to the north central coast before continuing northward. Images and videos are circulating that just begin to show the extent of the damage, but everyone says it’s just unfathomable.

Kathryn Miller, one of the excellent Jamaican students who has been on my field team and contributed meaningfully to anole research in Jamaica, was finally able to travel out to help her mother in Santa Cruz, in the parish of St. Elizabeth. This is near Black River, and as you might imagine, sadly the hurricane pretty much flattened this whole area. Kathryn shared with me an anole observation, and I’m submitting it in case folks would like to see a glimmer of the anoles in Jamaica post hurricane.
The photo and video (at bottom) are of an adult male Anolis garmani. Kathryn says “Found him in a fallen mango tree. All the trees in that area were actually either snapped it two or completely uprooted. He’s making the best out of a bad situation I guess. He can’t necessarily go up high anymore. Poor guy:pensive:”Anolis garmani is a Jamaican endemic, and like a true Jamaican, this guy is making the best of his situation.”
Kathryn is especially fond of the garmani. She is also a geologist and outstanding artist.I would like to take this opportunity to encourage people to use the official Jamaican government website for hurricane relief to learn more about the impacts of Melissa and donate what they might be able to.

Jonathan Losos
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