Photo from The Reptile Database.
Recently here in Trinidad, West Indies, I came across an Anolis aeneus. I observed the individual at 1930 h; sun had set at 1810 h. It was perched vertically on a wall, roughly 1 m off the ground facing down – as if in a foraging position. There was a bright light shining over it. I’m curious as to whether this type of behavior has been noted before; are these anoles also known to be active at night?
PhD Candidate at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
Latest posts by Renoir Auguste (see all)
- Native Caribbean-Based Anolis Researchers Network - September 25, 2021
- Puerto Rican Anole on Trinidad and Tobago - November 2, 2018
- Are Anolis aeneus active at night? - February 1, 2016
Peter J. Tolson
A. cristatellus forages under lights in urban San Juan, Puerto Rico
Carlos C. Martínez Rivera
I second that:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/b4ywuwmp5tei2c8/A%20cristatellus%20active%20at%2010pm%20in%20San%20Juan%2C%20PR.png?dl=0
Kevin de Queiroz
Same for Anolis bimaculatus on St. Kitts.
Bob Powell
Actually, many anoles are active around lights at night — the so-called “night-light niche.” In fact, on two occasions, in the British Virgin Islands and Dominica, snakes that usually are diurnally active were observed hunting anoles around night lights. So, the observation is not unusual, but always worth noting. Anecdotal observations alone are just that, but many anecdotal observations might reveal a pattern.
Re night light use, see the following references:
PERRY, G., & R.N. FISHER. 2006. Night lights and reptiles: Observed and potential effects, pp. 169–191. In: C. RICH & T. LONGCORE (eds.), Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting. Island Press Washington, D.C., USA.
PERRY, G., B.W. BUCHANAN, R.N. FISHER, M. SALMON, & S.E. WISE. 2008. Effects of artificial night lighting on amphibians and reptiles in urban environments, pp. 239–256. In: J.C. MITCHELL, R.E. JUNG, & B. BARTHOLOMEW (eds.), Urban Herpetology. Herpetological Conservation, volume 3. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Skip Lazell
Yes, night light hunting is standard behavior for A. carolinensis at our Mississippi home too…. Skip