05/08/2020
You've probably seen this cool guy hanging out on your porch or a tree limb in your yard. Meet the green anole, Anolis carolinensis. These guys are the most common lizard in Georgia. Despite their ability to change between green and brown, they are not chameleons. Their color depends mainly on environmental conditions and can be triggered by mood. You can distinguish the males by the pink to red dulap, throat fan, that they display in territory rivalries or to attract females. These guys are normally arboreal meaning they hang out in trees, but they can be found using human made structures to sun on such as railings, roof tops, and fences. They are insectivorous feeding on many types of arthropods [invertebrates with segmented appendages and body sections]. This is the only native species of anole in the US. Today, there are a few nonnative species as well including the brown anole which has made it's way north from Florida. These guys can range from 5 to 8 inches and lay single, round eggs in moist soil or rotting logs. The young look like smaller versions of the adults.
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To learn about a cool citizen science project going on right now to count anoles in your yard!
