Green anole, Anolis carolinesis
Often mistakenly called an American Chameleon because of its ability to change
colors from green to brown, they are not related to true chameleons. They eat
insects, can live up to 7 years and make great little pets and are easily tamed.
They are native Southeastern United States from Texas to Southern Virginia.

Description: maximum length 8 inches; bright green but can change color to light brown but always evenly hued; whitish chin; females have light stripe down the back and males don't; three factors influence color and change of color: camouflage, temperature, emotion. When on green vegetation or light background, tend to be green; when on bark or dark background, tend to be brown. When temperatures are around 70 or higher, tend to stay green; when in 60's are lower, tend to be brown. When males display for territory or females, turn bright green; when males fight, the winner turns bright green and the loser turns brown. Both males and females have dewlaps although males' slightly larger; used for breeding and territorial displays; Green Anoles in Southwest Florida have cream-colored dewlaps while Green Anoles elsewhere have pinkish dewlaps. Mature males also have ridge or crest down back called a "roach" which is also used in territorial and breeding displays.

Food: insects and occasionally Brown Anole hatchlings

Habitat: tree dweller in tropical forests and wooded areas; in West Indies, occupies upper trunk and canopy region while Brown Anoles occupy lower trunk and ground region; in U.S., will stay on vegetation but may be closer to ground

Range: entire state; cold tolerant enough to be found north to Tennessee

Lifespan: 2-3 years

Breeding: mates late spring to early summer; 1-2 eggs per clutch and several clutches each summer -- about every 10-14 days; eggs laid in decaying vegetation higher up in trees; 60-90 days to hatch; hatchlings must leave and establish own territories in other trees, and if canopy connected, will travel that way; in interrupted woodlands, must come to ground to move to another tree and preyed upon there by Brown Anoles

Notes: usually tries to escape predators by running up; when threat displays don't work in establishing territories, males may fight (right) but battle usually not fatal for loser; if Green Anole and Brown Anole fight, Green almost always wins and kills Brown; see notes below for Brown Anoles about shedding skin and "push-up" behavior


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