Anolis porcatus was recently introduced into Brazil. Now a paper in Herpetology Notes reports predation on that species by an introduced spider.
Photo by Christian Grenier, iNaturalist
Hello!
I hope you’ve been having a great holiday and that 2021 will be a great year for you. And what better way to end the year than with an anole?
Anolis homolechis, the Cuban White-fanned or Habana anole, is a trunk-ground anole native to Cuba. It is very similar in appearance to the Brown anole (Anolis sagrei), but, as the name suggests, has a stark white dewlap that may have light grey large stripes.
Photo by Alex Alfil, iNaturalist
White-fanned anoles are sympatric with Brown anoles; however they partition by temperature, with Brown anoles preferring hotter areas. White-fanned anoles can be found in the shade and can occur at higher elevations than Brown anoles as well (Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree, 2009).
Female Habana anoles have a very small dewlap, almost identical to the males, but with smaller, darker striping.
Photo by Wayne Fiddler, iNaturalist
Photo by Wayne Fiddler, iNaturalist
I hope you like this anole and happy New Year, friends! Thank you so much for a great, anole-filled year!
Anolis gundlachi. Photo by Alejandro Sanchez.
A recent study published in Biotropica by Beard et al. (2020) examines the impact of removing anoles (Anolis gundlachi, specifically) and perhaps the Caribbean’s most iconic frog, the coquí (Eleutherodactylus coqui), on arthropod densities.
Lizard and frog removal increases spider abundance, but does not cascade to increase herbivory.
Beard, K. H., Durham, S. L., Willig, M. R., & Zimmerman, J. K.
Abstract:
Insectivorous vertebrates, especially on islands, can exert top-down control on herbivorous prey, which can transfer through a food chain to reduce herbivory. However, in many systems insectivorous vertebrates feed on more than one trophic level, especially consuming arthropod predators, and this intraguild predation can diminish trophic cascades. Our goal was to determine, using an exclosure experiment, the relative importance of anole lizards and coqui frogs in controlling spider and arthropod abundances as well as herbivory rates in the understory of the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. We found that exclosures removing both anoles and coquis doubled spider abundance compared to exclosures with anoles and coquis at natural densities. The effect of coquis on spiders was greater and occurred more quickly than that of anoles, potentially because of the higher natural densities of coquis and removal of both vertebrates produced no interactive effects. We found support for the idea that anoles, but not coquis, reduce foliar arthropod abundances on one of the two studied plant species. However, there was also evidence that anole removal decreased herbivory, the opposite of what we would expect if there was a trophic cascade. Potential explanations include that anoles reduced predatory arthropods on foliage more than they reduced herbivorous arthropods. Results highlight that the food web in tabonuco forest is not simple and that there are complex and dynamic relationships among vertebrate insectivores, predatory arthropods, and herbivorous arthropods that do not consistently result in a trophic cascade.
New literature alert!
Evidence for fasting induced extra-adrenal steroidogenesis in the male brown anole, Anolis sagrei
In Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Himmelstein, Spahija, and Fokidis
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are steroids secreted by the adrenal glands into circulation to effect distant target tissues and coordinate physiological processes. This classic systemic view of steroids has been challenged by evidence that other tissues can independently synthesize their own steroids. Little is known however regarding circumstances that can promote this extra-adrenal steroidogenesis. Here we tested if fasting can induce tissues to increase GC and DHEA synthesis in the brown anole lizard Anolis sagrei. Lizards fasted for eight days lost body mass and increased fatty acid oxidation. Fasting also increased plasma concentrations of DHEA and corticosterone, but not cortisol. Corticosterone concentration within the adrenals, heart, intestines, lungs and liver exceeded that in plasma, with the latter two increasing with fasting. Levels of DHEA in the adrenals and heart were higher than in plasma, but no significant effect of fasting was observed, expect for a noticeable increase in intestinal DHEA. Two steroidogenic genes, the steroidogenic acute regulatory (Star) protein and Cyp17a1, a cytochrome P450 enzyme, were expressed in several tissues including the liver, lungs and intestines, which were increased with fasting. Continued research should aim to test for expression of additional enzymes further along the steroidogenic pathway. Nonetheless these data document potential extra-adrenal steroidogenesis as a possible mechanism for coping with energy shortages, although much work remains to be done to determine the specific roles of locally synthesized steroids in each tissue.
Photograph was taken in Hahashima, Ogasawara Islands, by Hideaki Mori.
New literature alert!
Testing the Ability of Dogs to Detect Different Odor Concentrations of the Carolina Anole (Anolis carolinensis) in Japan
In frontiers in Veterinary Science
Fukuzawa and Shibata
Abstract
The Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) is regarded as a problem in the Ogasawara Islands. The decision to use eradication measures depends on the limit of detection at low densities. We tested the ability of two dogs to discriminate the odor of anole to assess the possibility of using dogs to detect anoles at low densities. The two dogs were trained to discriminate the basic target odor concentration (512 anoles/ha) on 10-g coconut peat sachets. When they reached 100% accuracy, they were tested at different odor concentrations (densities of 385, 256, 128, 26, and 3 anoles/ha). During training, both dogs achieved 100% accuracy after 2 daily sessions in only 2 days. They were able to select the positive odor concentration sachet, and their accuracy was from 75 to 100%. We believe that testing using soil from sites of high anole high density and at the limit of detection in the Ogasawara Islands will be useful.
Anolis bartschi. Photo by Shea Lambert
Anolis bartschi is one of the many spectacular anoles of Cuba. Hailing from a restricted area in western Cuba, little is known about this species (though see a previous Anole Annals dispatch).
A new paper just out in Phyllomedusa provides new diet data. Here’s some details:
Trophic ecology and morphology of Anolis bartschi (Squamata: Dactyloidae) in Viñales National Park, Cuba
L. Yusnaviel García-Padrón, Geydis León Amador, Mariela Mezquía Delgado, and Yusvel Martínez Serrano
Abstract
Trophic ecology and morphology of Anolis bartschi (Squamata: Dactyloidae) in Parque Nacional Viñales, Cuba. Little is known about the trophic ecology of most anoles of Cuba. Morphology is directly related to ecological functions in lizards, such as feeding strategies, interspecific competition or energetic demands linked to reproduction. Anolis bartschi is a regionally endemic species, restricted to karstic hills of western Cuba. Here, we offer new insights into the trophic ecology of this species, and its relation to head morphology. We captured 131 adults; males were larger than females in size and head width. Most of them had prey in their stomachs. Males consumed more prey than females, but the latter consumed larger prey. Prey overlap within sexes was detected in the dry season, but trophic segregation occurred in the rainy season. Hymenoptera was the most frequently consumed prey in both sexes. In addition, females ate Blattodea and Coleoptera, and males consumed more Diptera. We suggest that this lizard prefers sedentary rather than mobile prey. According to our dataset and field observations, A. bartschi is a bimodal forager lizard, but research on temporal (daily and annual) variation in diet is recommended for a proper forage classification of this lizard.
Here is a short film I made concerning green and brown anoles in Florida and their behaviors and physical differences. Follow me on Instagram @dailyanole!
Photo by Jake Scott, iNaturalist
Hello again!
Hope you all are doing great. I just finished my finals and two applications to PhD programs (so far) so fingers crossed for me???
I wanna talk about another (mostly) brown-coloured anole today since I feel like there’s not enough appreciation for them.
Anolis distichus, the Bark Anole, is a trunk anole with about 16 subspecies, that ranges in colour from brown to grey to green. Their dewlaps also vary in colour and pattern with their population. Males and females look the same, but in this species only males have a dewlap.
Found in Haiti, Dominican Republic, central Bahamas and, of course, Florida, these anoles can be found in range of habitats. Bark anoles are kind of on the small side at about 127mm in length.
My favourite thing about the Bark Anole is the patterning that gives it its name. The striping mimics the roughness and shapes found in tree bark, making it kind of invisible sometimes. Quite an example of perfect camouflage.
Photo by alyssa_marker16, iNaturalist
Photo by alyssa_marker16, iNaturalist
There’s been a lot of research on the anole, particularly looking into its subspecies and if any of them are their own species. Currently, this doesn’t seem to be the case quite yet.
Maybe. There’s a lot of conversation about just how much variation there is or isn’t with this species.
Photo by djhiker, iNaturalist
1st place: Two Anolis lineatus by Matthijs van den Burg.
Aryeh Miller and Ansley Petherick
Thank you once again to everyone who participated in this year’s Anole Annals photo contest! We received over 400 total votes from 14 different countries, and now we’re ready to announce the results. First up, the grand prize winner, is the above photo of two Anolis lineatus from Aruba taken by Matthijs van den Burg. The second place winner is below, Anolis polylepis from the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, by Anna Thonis. Congratulations!
2nd place: Anolis polylepis by Anna Thonis.
The rest of the winners are below, and their photos can be seen in the 2021 calendar here! Click the link to order your calendar.
Congrats again to all the winners, and happy holidays!
Anolis lineatus, Matthijs van den Burg
Anolis polylepis, Anna Thonis
Anolis evermanni, Anna Thonis
Anolis gundlachi, Anna Thonis
Anolis aquaticus, Lindsey Swierk
Anolis aquaticus, Lindsey Swierk
Anolis aquaticus, Lindsey Swierk
Anolis marmoratus, Kristin Winchell
Anolis princeps, Jhan Salazar
Anolis carolinensis, Delton Howard
Anolis sagrei, Delton Howard
Anolis oculatus, Charles Watson
Anolis roquet. Photo by Gaëll.
Read all about it in the latest issue of IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians.