Anole feeding on nectar. What about sap? Photo by Sparky Leigh.
Good day everyone. I am currently working on a short manuscript about a brown anole that I observed feeding on sap. I am aware that some anoles will feed on nectar (see list below), but I would like to know if anyone has ever observed anoles feeding on sap? If you have any references pertaining to anoles feeding on nectar or sap, and it is not listed below, would you please e-mail it to me at a_sagrei@hotmail.com, or at least provide me with the reference so that I can try to obtain it myself. Thank you very much.
Gerrut
P.S. Lizards rule!
References I am aware of:
Campbell, T. and C. Bleazy. 2000. Natural history notes: Anolis carolinensis (green anole). Nectivory and flower pollination. Herpetological Review 31: 239.
Colón Archilla A.D. 2010. Nectivory in Puerto Rican emerald anoles (Anolis evermanni). IRCF Reptiles and Amphibians 17: 144–145
Echternacht, A.C. and G.P. Gerber. 2000. Anolis conspersus (Grand Cayman Blue throated Anole). Nectivory. Herpetological Review 31:173.
Liner, E.A. 1996. Natural history notes: Anolis carolinensis carolinensis (green anole). Nectar feeding. Herpetological Review 27: 78.
Okochi, I., M. Yoshimura, T. Abe, and H. Suzuki. 2006. High population densities of an exotic lizard, Anolis carolinensis and its possible role as a pollinator in the Ogasawara Islands. Bulletin of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute 5: 265–269.
Perry, G. and J. Lazell. 1997. Anolis stratulus (Saddled Anole). Nectivory. Herpetological Review 28:150–151.
Perry, G. and J. Lazell. 2006. Anolis pulchellus (Grass Anole). Nectivory. Herpetological Review 37:218–219.
Rios-Lopez, N. 2004. Anolis stratulus (Saddled Anole). Extrafloral herbivory. Herpetological Review 35:386.
Timmermann, A., B. Dalsgaard, J.M. Olesen, L.H. Andersen, and A.M. Martin Gonzalez. 2008. Anolis aeneus (Grenadian Bush Anole). Anolis richardii (Grenadian Tree Anole). Nectivory/pollination. Herpetological Review 39:84–85.
Valido, A.M. 2006. Anolis allisoni (Allison’s Anole/Cameleon Azul). Nectar feeding. Herpetological Review 37:461.
- They Simply Don’t Get It: Misguided Conservation Policies in Taiwan Continue to Promote Anole Slaughter - October 22, 2016
- A Tale about Two Tails: No Effect of Having a Regrown Tail on Body Condition - August 29, 2016
- A Few Interesting Findings from a Recent Parasitology Study, anda Plea to Other Researchers - January 12, 2015
Skip (James) Lazell
You’ve got ’em both: thanks! Funny thing is we have nectivory for the least common species on Guana Island (BVI) but not A. cristatellus, the super-abundant one. When you reckon we’ve spent a month a year there for over 30 years, and cristatellus is Everywhere on Island, you have to wonder if this lack of observations means a real difference in this species? Any observations of this in cristatellus elsewhere? Skip
Gerrut Norval
Thanks James.
Yes, that is an interesting question.
Robert Powell
Anolis bimaculatus, A. gingivinus, A. pogus, A. sabanus (Powell, R., R. W. Henderson, and J. S. Parmerlee, Jr. 2005. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Dutch Caribbean: St. Eustatius, Saba, and St. Maarten. Gallows Bay, St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles: St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation).
Anolis extremus (Fläschendräger, A., and L. C. M. Wijffels. 2009. Anolis. 2. vollständig überarbeitete und erweitere Auflage. Münster, Germany: Natur und Tier).
Anolis grahami (K.B. Sandved in Losos, J. B., and K. de Queiroz. 1997. Darwin’s lizards. Natural History 106: 34–39).
Anolis marmoratus (Breuil, M. 2002. Histoire naturelle des amphibiens et reptiles terrestres de l’Archipel Guadeloupéen. Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy. Patrimoines Naturels, Paris 54: 1–339).
Anolis stratulus (A. J. Sánchez Muñoz in Henderson, R. W., and R. Powell. 2009. Natural History of West Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida).
Gerrut Norval
Thanks.
Gerrut Norval
Hi Robert
I managed to find the Losos and de Queiroz (1997) reference, but the others are books I can not obtain. Would it be possible to scan the relevant pages and e-mail them to me please?
I also managed to obtain the curly-tail lizard reference – good; the only other instances of feeding on sap that I could find were geckoes.
In advance, thank you for the assistance, and I hope to be able to return the favor.
Gerrut
Robert Powell
Not an anole, but maybe relevant:
Smith, G. R., L. Pieper, and J. B. Iverson. 2008. Leiocephalus carinatus (Northern Curly-tail Lizard). Sap feeding. Herpetological Review 39: 228.
Gerrut Norval
Thanks. Definately useful.
Sixto J. Incháustegui
During several decades on the house I grew up in Santo Domingo there was an Ixora hedgerow approxymately 2 meters high and some 15 meters long. A high density population of A. chlorocyanus leaved on it. They were frecuently watched feedig on the Ixora flowers nectar.
Regards
Gerrut Norval
Thanks.
Gregory C. Mayer
Anolis opalinus, Rocklands Bird Feeding Station, Anchovy, Jamaica– observed feeding on the surface of a ripe, liquidy, sliced banana surface (which had been put out for the birds). It seemed to be feeding on the gel-like fruit, but I could not exclude the possibility that there were fly larvae in the “soup”.
Gerrut Norval
Hi Gregory
Thank you for contributing to this discussion. It is likely that the lizard was feeding on fly larvae, but also very likely that it was there for the fruit. Frugivory has been recorded in quite a few anoles. I strongly suggest looking into such observations more carefully and report on it as done in the article by Vega-Castillo, S.I. and Puente-Rolón, A.R. (2011. Anolis species. Frugivory. Herpetological Review 42(4): 598-599).
Happy lizard spotting.
Gerrut