Green Anole Care In Captivity
Description, Habits, And Habitat
The green anole, also incorrectly called a chameleon, is a common lizard of the southeastern United States. It is a small (5" to 7"), slender lizard with a long, thin tail. A characteristic of the anole is the brightly colored throat fan, called a dewlap. The dewlap of the male green anole is large and pink (occasionally bluish). It is very small or absent in the female. Males flash the dewlap as a signal in territorial and courtship displays.
Anoles have a well-developed ability to change color in environmental, physiological and psychological conditions. Although not as adept as the African chameleon, the green anole can alter its pigment cells to produce a variety of shades of greens, yellows, browns, and gray. In general, a warm, healthy, "relaxed" anole will be bright green.
Of special note is the anole's long, fragile tail, which will break off with very little pressure. This is an adaptation that allows the lizard to escape from predators. The tail will slowly regenerate (regrow) after it is broken, if the animal is well cared for. Don't pick up an anole by the tail!
Anoles are found in a variety of habitats, from swamp and lake shore to dry scrub forest. The green anole is often found in inhabited areas on buildings, fences, trees and shrubs. It is arboreal (tree-dwelling) and most at home on a branch or tree trunk.
Related Species
The green anole is only one of perhaps 200 or more species of anoles in the Americas, with most species restricted to the tropics. One other species, the brown anole, is either native to the United States or an early introduction. It has spread through the Florida Keys and much of south Florida. Four other species, the crested anole, the large-headed anole, the bark anole, and the knight anole, have recently been introduced and established in Miami area due to human agencies.
Temperment
The green anole is, like most small lizards, quite shy and skittish. Unlike many other lizards, the green anole will become quite tame with frequent human contact and gentle handing.
Feeding Requirements
Anoles will eat almost any small, moving insect. A variety of prey items is desirable, but mealworms are an adequate winter diet. Captive anoles may be trained to eat small chunks of meat, but a steady diet of lean meat is not adequate nutritionally.
Water Requirements
Many anoles will not drink from a dish. The most practical way to get anoles to drink is to sprinkle water on the side of their cage daily. If there is a plant in the cage, anoles lap up water sprinkled on the leaves.
Cage Requirements
Anoles live best in a large, screened cage. The cage should be dry, but water should be readily available. Light is a necessity, and live plants will not only give the lizard a place to perch, but they will keep the cage from becoming too dry. Do not keep anoles in a closed glass cage or terrarium unless you are particularly careful to keep it from becoming too wet.
Reproduction
Green anoles are egg layers, with the female producing eggs singly and depositing them in leaves, trash and decaying wood. Breeding normally occurs in the spring, with egg laying in June and July. In captivity, reproduction is initiated only if a long (14+) light period and high temperatures (88-90 F.) are available. Eggs can be hatched in moist soil, sand, sawdust or paper. Feed hatchling fruit flies,termites or other small insects.
Suggested References
Behler, John L. and F. Wayne King. 1979. THE AUDUBON SOCIETY
FIELD GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS. Alfred A.
Knopf, New York, NY PP 497-502
Conant, Roger. 1975. A FIELD GUIDE TO REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF
EASTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA. 2nd Ed., Houghton Mifflin
Co., Boston, Ma
Schmidt, Karl P. and Robert Inger. 1957. LIVING REPTILES OF THE
WORLD. Hanover House, Garden City, NJ
Smith, Hobart M. 1946 HANDBOOK OF LIZARDS pp.93-100
Carr, Archie F. 1963. THE REPTILES. Life Nature Library, Time,
Inc., New York, NY
Author For This Account: Dr. Michael Corn
Published By The Chicago Herpetological Society
Downloaded From The Ophidian Herpetological Network