Anolis lividus. Photo by Jonathan Losos
Situated at the northern end of the the Lesser Antillean island chain, Montserrat is home to a number of interesting herps, including the endemic galliwasp Diploglossus montisserrati, the endemic skink Mabuya montserratae, and the endemic anole Anolis lividus. This anole was bravely investigated and reported on by Anole Annals’ intrepid anoleologist Martha Munoz. If your inquiry into the reason I used the words “bravely” and “intrepid” has left you a little lost, the smoke Montserrat is emitting from its active volcano will drag you to the answer: Martha was on the island when the Soufrière Hills dome collapsed and spewed volcanic ash 9 miles skyward!
Collapse of the dome sends ash skywards. January 2010. Photo by Martha Munoz.
The view from space. Image from NASA.
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- Out Damned Spot! Or, How They’d Be Loving If They Weren’t Fighting - November 18, 2014
Skip Lazell
Martha and I corresponded on A. lividus when she was there and Montserrat was blowing up. Thanks! Skip
Yoel Stuart
Have you ever been to Montserrat, Skip? If yes, before the burying of Plymouth?
Martha Muñoz
Many of Skip’s original sites are currently under 40 feet of ash!
Skip Lazell
I was there long, long ago: beautiful island! I tried to visit and collect anoles on every island east of the PR Bank (Anegada Passage) from Grenada north: the entire Lesser Antilles. “Island” was anything with more than herb-stage veg. I think I got anoles on every one except Aves, so had to publish on the birds from there….
Skip
Yoel Stuart
Aves. Fittingly. Sounds like an adventure!
Rich Glor
Fun posts Yoel, keep it up.
Yoel Stuart
Thanks Rich. Some light fare every once in a while!
Martha Muñoz
For those with subscriptions to Herp Review, there’s this:
Muñoz MM, Hewlett J. 2011. Ecological consequences of continual volcanic activity on the lizard, Anolis lividus, from Montserrat. Herpetological Review 42(2): 160—165.
Skip was very helpful. I even to got see his original maps showing pre-eruption Montserrat.