The photos (and photographer) do not do it justice, but I wanted to share pictures of this beautifully colored red-orange female sagrei. I’m hoping the next generation produces even more vibrant specimens.
Editor’s Note: Anole Annals has had a number of posts on orange sagrei.
Latest posts by Armando Pou (see all)
- Anolis cybotes or Anolis cristatellus? - April 4, 2013
- Anolis Carolinensis/Porcatus Hybrid? - March 27, 2013
- Red-Orange Anolis Sagrei - May 21, 2012
Terry Howells
I have two males that are red. I would like to breed them but I am having a hard time finding red females for them. I was told they came from the Florida Keys. Here is one of the males.
Armando Pou
The red coloration is not recessive. If you breed them to regular colored females roughly half of the offspring will be red and the others will carry the red gene.
Rich Glor
Very interesting genetic experiment. Do you always get half orange males or do some crosses produce all orange males (as we’d expect if some individuals are homozygous for a dominant red allele)?
Armando Pou
What I meant to say is that roughly half of the numbers of offspring are “red” in varying degrees (throughout their bodies) and half are normally colored (dark brown to beige). It is very interesting because I had assumed the red would be a recessive trait. There are “normal” colored sagrei that do have red coloration, particularly on the tops of the head (more common in females). This red-headed variant is very common in some populations in Broward County, Florida, around the Lighthouse Point area in eastern Broward. Curly tails have become very common in that area and they may have impacted this population of sagrei since my last trip there two years ago. The population dynamics of exotics in south Florida is fascinating and always in flux.
Rich Glor
It would be great to start quantifying some of this information.
Armando Pou
You are right Rich, we should, I’ve been really bad about that and about dumping the baby “culls” back into my yard. Red sagrei are now popping up around my neighborhood. I posted a photo of a reddish male a few weeks ago which I suspect is one of the descendants of my first set of culls.
Jjdens
Last year I had a meshed in porch with a crooked door so every once in a while a lizard would enter. I fixed the door but noticed a redish orange anole was stuck in there and decided to keep him there and feed him by releasing fruit flies and it worked well. I decided to try catching a female (normal brown) and I found them mating and eventually 4 babies appeared in parts of my porch which was planted so they hid well avoiding being eaten by the parents. 2 were normal, one was orange and one was brown but faded into red orange from the hind legs to the tail! I would take a pic if I still lived at that house ????
Armando Pou
The red coloration does not appear to be a recessive trait, however, they are very prone to being picked off by predators.
Armando Pou
Red females are far less common in the wild.
Armando Pou
BTW, really nice red male!
Terry Howells
That may be a male. One of my males started out with that pattern on it’s back and we thought it was a female. It eventually started fighting with the other male and we had to separate them. The pattern on it’s back eventually faded. The females I was told look a lot like this one with a lot less red coloration. But I’m just guessing.
Armando Pou
The photo I posted is of a second generation red female I have in a pen. She has laid eggs.
Armando Pou
I suggest trying proven females of any color. The red will breed true. Don’t wait until that male grows too old.
Terry Howells
I might try that. Thanks. Also I’ve never seen a female that was all red. That’s cool. Nice to know the females can be that pretty too.
Armando Pou
No problem. This is the perfect time of year to do it. Get five or six females for that male and feed them heavily on dusted crickets. They will start laying eggs with his genes in a couple of weeks. Once they hatch out in several weeks you will be able to sort out the red offspring immediately as they are red from birth. If you live in Florida I suggest screen cages (to avoid lung ailments). Separate the young into small cages, no more than three to a cage. A piece of fruit (replaced every 2-3 days) and a partially shaded spot outdoors – spritz the cage every other day with water and in two weeks they will be large enough for small dusted crickets. Best of luck.
Terry Howells
Thanks for the advice. I’m looking for some females now. Wish me luck. 🙂
Armando Pou
Terry, if you haven’t found any females let me know, maybe we can work something out to ship a couple.
Armando Pou
The red females may be rarer in nature because of predation and their smaller size.
Sal
Armando Pou says:
May 22, 2012 at 4:00 pm
You are right Rich, we should, I’ve been really bad about that and about dumping the baby “culls” back into my yard. Red sagrei are now popping up around my neighborhood. I posted a photo of a reddish male a few weeks ago which I suspect is one of the descendants of my first set of culls
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I wonder if you live by me because I have a bright red male that has been visiting the yard and I THANK you if it was one of yours because it is a stunner.
Never saw one before.
Armando Pou
E-mail me offline and we can correspond further: armando.pou@bellsouth.com
Gina
There is a very large bright red male living in my front yard right now, and I have noticed a few younger ones with red markings. The red male is too fast for me to catch, so I left him alone and he seems to be doing quite well. So far he is the only solid red anole that I have seen, but hopefully some of his babies will be red.
Armando Pou
Hi Gina,
That is great! Once you have one, you will notice more and more start to appear in the coming years. It is not a recessive trait and perhaps the red color (like sagrei’s dewlap) helps them attract more females. Whatever the reason, these beautiful little lizards brighten up the yard. Our whole urban/suburban ecosystems in Florida are composed of exotics, beginning with our landscaping, I have never understood the angst towards a few exotic animals; they certainly make our lives more entertaining.
Armando
Kevin Houran
Heres a pic of my super red female, i have a few more I’ve snatched up but she’s got the highest ssaturation
Armando Pou
Hi Kevin, that is a spectacular looking female! Do you live in Florida? If so, I recommend a screened enclosure over a glass one. The reason being that the natural humidity here is extremely high and anolis in our area that are kept in glass enclosures eventually develop respiratory ailments and die. If you are interested in more offspring, a small potted plant will work great.
Yasmeen Erritouni
Hi Armando. I’m a researcher studying this orange phenotype of A. sagrei. I’d be very grateful to speak to you about your experience catching and breeding them. Please let me know how I can contact you! Thanks!
Karen J
Are these creatures ok When temperatures go down in the 30s? I’m worried!
Armando Pou
Anolis sagrei will semi hibernate under debris on the ground throughout the winter occasionally coming out on sunny days. The ground temperature coupled with rotting vegetation keeps them alive. They can survive for several days maybe weeks when the temperature drops into the 30s at night. However if the ground freezes where you live, they may not survive for more than a couple of days. Likewise if they get caught out on a branch or open area and the temperature drops into the 30s for days, they may also not survive.
Kazroxx
I’m in Central Florida and we’re just having a cold snap. They seem to be faring OK… Probably much better than I am! Thanks so much for your comment.
Elisa
So heres a pic of one of these guys i just found on my Calendulas. They are so awesome. I guess they hunt at night? Not familiar with them, but very happy to see them, & learn about them. This one didnt even flinch when i put my hand in the flowers. He/she is really cool looking and i welcome them in my flower garden of course.
Armando Pou
Hi Elisa, photo didn’t attach.
Stephen R Sparks
Just yesterday in The Villages (south of Ocala and north of Orlando) I notice a nearly completely reddish orange Sagrei anole. First, I’ve seen but camos well with the red lava rock we have in the front yard. At first I thought it was a different species but then saw that it was just this different color. I’m certainly hoping that we’ll have more soon.