Wonders of Wildlife: Green Anole

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Green Anole Other Common Names:chameleon Scientific Name:Anolis carolinensis Found in Alabama:Mostly common statewide, relatively scarce in extreme northern portion Diet: Carnivore (eats animals)
	Green Anole in Habitat Flickr - David Eickhoff Click image to enlarge it

Learn more about...

CLASSIFICATION

What type of animal am I?

I am a vertebrate (an animal with a spine or backbone).
I am cold-blooded, so I cannot control my body temperature.
I have scaleson the outside of my body.
I breathe with lungs just like you.
I have4 legs.

Scientists use basic traits to group animals into differenttaxonomic classes.

For a taxonomic classification chart comparing key traits of common backyard wildlife,
CLICK HERE!

The Green Anole is aREPTILE!

IDENTIFICATION TIPS

Size:	Adults reach 5-8 inches in length. Males are slightly larger than females.
Key Characteristics:	Color ranges from bright green to brown. Have a long slender body Pointed snout males have a bright pink dewlap (flap of skin) that hangs beneath the neck.	Male Green Anole Dreamstime Click on image to enlarge it
Juveniles (young):	Similar in appearance to adults but smaller in size.

ADAPTATIONS

PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS

Green Anoles can change colors:
The green anole is often called 'chameleon' because of their ability to change colors from bright green to brown. They have specialized structures just below the skinwhich allow them to changed colors. They change color based on internal and external factors like body temperature and excitement. They have the ability to appear brown if they are cold or stressed.	Green Anole Changing Colors Wikimedia - Huhnra Click on image to enlarge it

Green Anoles avoid predators:
Green anoles have a variety of adaptations that help them avoid being eaten by predators (animals that eat them). Their coloration provides camouflage,(the ability to blend in with their surroundings). They also havesticky-likestructureson their footpads which allow them to walk up and down along vertical surfaces. They may also leap and glide down from higher points in trees, usinga membrane of skin located near the front and hind legs.	Green Anole Monty Morris Click on image to enlarge it


BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS

Green Anoles are diurnal:
They are active during the day (diurnal).

Green Anole males show dominance:
The green anole is a territorial species and only hunts within its own area. Males show displays in order to protect their territories. Generally, males that are larger in size will be more dominant and have larger territories. If a male feels the need to show dominance to protect their territory, they will bob their heads up and down, do a push-up like movement, and flare their pink dewlap. Females also chose a male based on the size of their territory and dominance.	Male Green Anole Showing Dominance Gregory Glasscock* Click on image to enlarge it

LIFE CYCLE

Life Cycle Stages of the Green Anole

Nest:	Eggs are deposited in moist soil, moistleaf litter, or in hollow logs.

Eggs:	Females lay one single hard-shelled at a time every two weeks. They can lay up to 10 eggs total for the breeding season.	Baby Green Anole Flickr - Patricia Pierce Click on image to enlarge it

Young:	The female does not stick around to care for the eggs. Young are independent and can hunt for themselveswhen they hatch from the eggs.

Life Span:	Average of 5-5.5 years but can potentially live up to 8 years.

HABITAT NEEDS

NATURAL Habitat Needs	ADULTS	YOUNG
Food	Green anoles are carnivores (eat animals). Feed on insects, grubs, beetles, flies, crickets, moths, butterflies, and spiders. In rare circ*mstances, they will eat mollusks, grain, and seeds.
Water	Require a moist or humid environment. Commonly found in swamps and forests. Will drink from water collected from dew or after rain showers.
Shelter	Require green plants and are primarily arboreal (living in trees). Perch at different heights within the trees. Will take shelter among wildflowers, low bushes, and shrubs that provide cover.
Places to Raise Young	Females deposit their eggs in moist soil. Young are independent upon hatching.

BACKYARD Habitat Needs	ADULTS	YOUNG
Food	Provide vegetation to support insect life such as un-mowed grasses, logs, trees, and bushes. Do not spray pesticides that might harm insect populations.
Water	Provide plenty of plants which can collect rainwater and dew.
Shelter	Plant flowers, tall grasses, and low bushes that provide plenty of cover. Plant trees that will provide a place for them to perch. They will also perch on manmade structures likewalls, fences, and rooftops.
Places to Raise Young	Provide a space with moist soil in which the females can deposit their eggs. Young are independent upon hatching.

ECOLOGICAL ROLE

Animals play an important ecological role in the health of habitats and ecosystems.

Food Source:	Green anoles are eaten by snakes, kestrels, thrashers, and some larger reptiles.

Insect Control:	Green anoles eat a large amount of invertebrates (animals without a spine or backbone), keeping these populations under control.

INFORMATION SOURCES FOR THIS SPECIES

Outdoor Alabama Watchable Wildlife		Savannah River Ecology Lab Herpetology Program

Animal Diversity Web		New Hampshire PBS Nature Works

John B. Jensen. Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia Press, 2008.

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Wonders of Wildlife: Green Anole | AWF (2024)

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