While conducting field work in the Dominican Republic, we recently took a morning off to go for a hike to a nearby waterfall, the beautiful Salto de Jimenoa. I was surprised to find several educational signs about the forest posted along the trail, covering topics including land use history, geology, and, most importantly, flora and fauna. Nestled in a paragraph about reptiles and amphibians, it noted the following (in Spanish, English, French, and German, no less!): “The amphibians are represented by lizards and frogs… A good observer can see lizards of the Anolis species jumping from the trees or walking on the ground and birds can be appreciated.” While some of the biology might not have translated very well, it was good to see anoles getting the shout-out they deserve!
These anoles were featured on interpretive signage in the Dominican Republic.
- Dwarf Boa Versus Giant Twig Anole - September 23, 2014
- Anoles (Sort of) Eat Mice - September 20, 2014
- Advice Needed: Field Sites for A. sagrei in Florida - March 6, 2014
Martha Munoz
I remember this! In a separate trail on the road between Constanza and the Carretera Duarte, there is a small station near Ebano Verde park with very nice and detailed signs, as well as scientific posters. Yoel Stuart, I think your poster was there. Miguel Landestoy would know more specifics. It is very nice to see anoles highlighted in the green spaces of the DR!
Rich Glor
What’s your take on the lizard under “6. Anolis?” This doesn’t look like any of the species that might be found at Salto de Jimenoa.
Joe Burgess
My first thought when seeing this was #6 is not a DR species. It looks like Anolis biporcatus. Still, you’d have to be an anole nerd to know that. It is nice that they were included.