Category: Natural History Observations Page 2 of 34

Adult water anole (Anolis aquaticus) from Coto Brus, Costa Rica, with an exhaled – and recycled – air bubble. Photo by Lindsey Swierk.

Over the past few years, I’ve been accumulating evidence that the water anole (Anolis aquaticus) might be a tiny scuba diver in the streams of its home in southern Costa Rica. Anolis aquaticus takes to the water as refuge from predators, swimming and often diving underwater for long periods of time – the record at my study site is currently 16 minutes! To enable these crazy-long dives, it’s possible that anoles may have come up with a scuba-tank method of sorts to “breathe” underwater. I’ve compiled a video of what appears to be underwater respiration of a recycled air bubble that clings to the anole’s head. (A few more details about these observations will be in the upcoming March issue of Herpetological Review.) For now, enjoy the video!

Amazing Video of Nest Site Selection in Anolis equestris

By James T. Stroud

On November 17, 2018

In Natural History Observations

Here is an outstanding video of — what looks like — an adult female Cuban knight anole (A. equestris) testing out a potential nest site for egg laying. However, around the 3 minute mark in the video it seems to get spooked and possibly abandons the operation!

What do Anole Annals readers think the lizard is trying to measure when gently prodding the soil with her snout? Substrate firmness? Avenues of easy digging? And when she appears to be licking the substrate? Moisture? Fascinating!

Special thanks to Florida resident Janie Barbato for recording and posting this wonderful video as an addition to her iNaturalist observation of this female.

What Colombian Anole Species Could These Two Be?

By Javier Cortes Suarez

On August 30, 2018

In Anole Photographs, Ask the Experts, Natural History Observations, Notes from the Field

I found these two specimens in my farm located in the municipality of Santa Sofia, department of Boyacá, Colombia. The living specimen was found near a stream in a wet area, while the dead specimen was found in the house of the farm. The farm is located in an Andean forest at about 2300 meters above sea level where plants such as oaks and eucalyptus trees predominate, among others.

Out of Puerto Rico?: A Puerto Rican Anole Hatchling in Need of an ID

By Chris Thawley

On August 27, 2018

In Introduced Anoles, Natural History Observations

The nursery trade is a known vector for many invasive species including anoles. Anoles have quite the affinity for laying eggs in the moist soil of potted plants, which may then be transported to various locations. Indeed, the nursery trade is the suspected vector for introductions to Hawaii and California of A. carolinensis and A. sagrei and likely accelerated their spread within those states. In fact, citizen scientists on iNaturalist document a reasonable number of brown anoles well outside their normal range. These observations have a distribution that suspiciously coincides with locations of Home Depots and Lowes. However, while the nursery trade is a suspected vector for other species of anoles, verified instances of long-distance transport via the trade are fewer and farther between.

An (as yet) unidentified anole hatchling transported from Puerto Rico to Virginia. From user kimjy3 on iNaturalist.org

One recent observation on iNaturalist documented a hatchling anole that popped out of a potted plant shipped from Puerto Rico as the user unwrapped it…in Alexandria, Virginia. Can anyone on Anole Annals having experience with Puerto Rican anoles and their hatchlings help ID this little one? The user reports that the anole does not have blue eyes; instead they are brown or black.

Feel free to add IDs/comments on the iNaturalist observation as well!

Perch Use by Anolis polylepis Peters, 1874 (Polychrotidae) in a Tropical Humid Forest at the Piro Biological Station, Costa Rica

By Javier Cortes Suarez

On August 14, 2018

In Natural History Observations, New Research, Notes from the Field, Research Methods

Morazán Fernández, F., Gutiérrez Sanabria D. R., Coello-Toro H. L., Arévalo-Huezo, E. Ioli, A. G., Díaz Gutiérrez, N., Guerra, L. F, Burbano, D., Guevara, C., Lobos, L., Rico-Urones, A., Cortés-Suárez, J. E, Jiménez, R., Reinke, H., Narváez, V., Aranda, J.M. 2013. Relación entre la fauna silvestre y las plantaciones de palma africana (elaeis guineensis) y su efecto en la producción de pequeños y medianos productores en la península de osa, Costa Rica. Instituto Internacional de Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica. Pp 104.

This image was taken as part of the integrated course developed by the XXIII promotion of the Masters in Conservation and Wildlife Management of the National University of Costa Rica.

Individuals of a species use habitats on different ways for refuge, feeding, reproduction, or perching. We studied the variation on perch use between sex and age classes of Anolis polylepis at the Piro Biological Station, Costa Rica. Our results point to a similar perch use pattern between sex, but different between age classes, considering only the lowest and
highest perches. Adult females and males use herbaceous and shrubby vegetation and avoid leaf litter. Juveniles use herbaceous vegetation and leaf litter, but avoid shrubby vegetation. We suggest that adult males use higher perches to defend territory.
Conversely, juveniles use lower perches to avoid predators and foraging. Adult females use middle and high perches. This result is in contrast with previous studies on this species.

Cortés-Suárez, J. E. and N. Díaz-Gutiérrez. 2013. Perch use by Anolis polylepis Peters, 1874 (Polychrotidae) in a tropical humid forest at the Piro Biological Station, Costa Rica. Herpetology Notes 6: 219–222.

‘Whoops’! Anolis bicaorum Falls during Dewlap Display!

By Tom Brown

On July 24, 2018

In Natural History Observations, Notes from the Field

While performing population research of Anolis (Norops) bicaorum at Kanahau Utila Research & Conservation Facility, we stumbled upon two males in close proximity initiating a territorial dispute. With the intention of documenting this behavior, we began to record the interaction.

In all honesty, the confrontation was a little shorter than any of us expected… It may well be one of my funniest fieldwork memories to date (despite watching it on repeat, I still can’t help but chuckle at this anole’s misfortune!) . To detail, upon the first exchange of dewlap extensions, the responding male slipped and fell clumsily from the trunk; meanwhile, his contender (who was in the process of displaying) looked on, apparently baffled at the sudden disappearance of his rival.

It appears the falling males mistake arose owing to a combination of two factors. The simple explanation is that this male lost his footing on the steep vertical trunk (which formed the battleground on this occasion), but indeed it’s rare to see an anole make such an error of judgement; the lamellae on their feet afford them excellent grip on many substrates. The second explanation owes to the fact males are completely intolerant of one another. We noted that when engaging in territorial disputes, males of A. bicaorum become entirely absorbed in their confrontation, possessed by their territorial natures and relentless in their efforts to dissuade and expel contenders from their patch. Often, competing individuals become so preoccupied that hey no longer perceive apparent dangers (e.g., the closely observing biologists). Perhaps the haphazard approach of males in territorial engagement leaves them prone to the occasional miscalculation.

If you are curious to learn more about Anolis (Norops) bicaorum (a threatened species endemic to Isla de Utila, Honduras), the most recent research by Brown et al. (2017) at Kanahau URCF resulted in published records on their geographic distribution, natural history, ecology and interactions with sympatric anoles.

Three in The Bed: a Curious Case of a Shared Sleeping Perch in a Neotropical Anole

By Tom Brown

On July 8, 2018

In Anole Photographs, Natural History Observations, New Research, Notes from the Field

Opposite views of a communal sleeping event (1 male, 2 females) of Anolis cusuco at Parque Nacional Cusuco, Departamento Cortes, Honduras (Brown & Arrivillaga, 2018)

Let’s be honest: anoles are fascinating! These charismatic and well-adapted lizards are always a pleasure to watch and document. Better yet, no matter how well you think you know a species, they’re still always full of surprises.

The sleeping behavior of anoline lizards is a fascinating aspect of their natural history, and a growing amount of literature has detailed species-specific sleeping activities. Typically, anoles are considered solitary sleepers owing to their territorial nature, but ‘behind closed doors,’ this may not always be the case!

For those curious, a recent ‘behavioral oddity’ published in Mesoamerican Herpetology by Brown & Arrivillaga (2018), reported an example of three individual Anolis (Norops) cusuco sleeping together on a perch! The individuals were so close that portions of their bodies overlapped! Strange, indeed; this observation contrasts the typical view of anole sleeping ecology, territoriality and indeed that what is known for this species (Clause & Brown, 2017). In over 5 years of visiting Cusuco NP (observing countless solitary sleeping A. cusuco), imagine the surprise in finding these anoles having a sneaky snuggle!!

As we wrote: “Although a conclusive explanation is not available, we suggest that because the sleeping group consisted of one male and two females, that the shared perch might have been breeding-related. This situation might be associated with the overlap of male and female territories, or by the anoles awakening close to necessary resources. Conceivably, however, courtship might have been interrupted by nightfall, and the orientation of the sleeping male ensured that courting would continue the following morning.”

Anole Annals World Cup: Round One

By Christine Rose-Smyth

On June 17, 2018

In Anole Art, Literature, and Humor, Anole Photographs, Introduced Anoles, Natural History Observations, Notes from the Field

It’s June. It’s orchid flowering season in Grand Cayman. And with nods to #Anole March Madness and #MammalMadness it’s the opening round of the 2018 ANOLE WORLD CUP. #ANOLEGOOAAAAALLLL!!!!

Home Team – Anolis conspersus – against – Away Team – Anolis sagrei

And in less than 90 seconds it’s all over.

The teams are on the pitch

The Away Team

The Home Team heads to mid-field

The Striker takes aim

Home Team – 1, Away – nil

Sometimes Knights Eat Dragons (Dragonflies, That Is!)

By Chris Thawley

On June 4, 2018

In Introduced Anoles, Natural History Observations

One of the loudest anole meals I’ve witnessed.

During one recent afternoon’s field work, I heard an unusual noise in the botanical garden I was working in: a sound like someone crunching and crinkling a foil potato chip bag. Tracing the sound from about 20 feet away, I did not find a snacking plant enthusiast, but rather a young Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in survey posture who had apparently just snagged a large dragonfly out of mid-air. The anole chowed down on its prey while keeping a weather eye on me and conducting a few half-hearted displays to let me know it was aware of my presence. As the anole continued to masticate its rather large afternoon meal, it moved to a higher perch away from the prying eyes of this anolologist.

The dragonfly, a Regal Darner (Coryphaeschna ingens), is a common species in the southeastern United States and an accomplished aerial predator. It was also more than a mouthful for this young knight, which had to chew with its mouth open for over four minutes (and still wasn’t finished when it escaped my view); quite the prey handling time! And yet more evidence that this largest of anole species is willing to take a chance on any prey item that might fit into its maw even if it takes a little work.

An impressive snag for such a young anole.

A Case of Matestaken Identity: Hybrid Mating between Crested and Brown Anoles!

By Chris Thawley

On March 13, 2018

In Natural History Observations

Somebody needs to work on their anole species identification skills.

Breeding season is heating up for anoles in Miami, and at least one male crested anole (A. cristatellus) is a little…confused. While collecting some baseline data for my post-doc work looking at impacts of artificial light at night (ALAN) on brown and crested anoles, I noticed a commotion on a nearby cycad. Upon closer inspection, I realized that a male crested anole was pursuing and subsequently mating with a female brown anole (A. sagrei) who was decidedly unhappy about the situation.

In case you’re wondering about the colorful jewelry at the base of their tails, both of the anoles in the photo/video are bead-tagged to allow me to reidentify them from a distance. The copulation here lasted 3-4 minutes a portion of which I managed to capture on video.

While previous reports on AA have documented coupling between A. carolinensis and A. sagrei, I haven’t seen any reports of interspecific mating between A. cristatellus and A. sagrei. Has anyone else observed this phenomenon? The two species do encounter each other quite frequently in the Miami area, so this might not be a rare occurrence. Hybridization seems unlikely given the divergence between these two species, but you never know!