Wendy Lee photographed a Graham’s anole eating another anole, probably an A. lineatopus. The event went down on November 25, 2013 in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, where Wendy runs a wildlife rescue facility, the Seven Oaks Sanctuary for Wildlife. We’ve discussed anoles eating other anoles several times in these pages, most recently with regard to A. sabanus.
Professor of Biology and Director of the Living Earth Collaborative at Washington University in Saint Louis. I've spent my entire professional career studying anoles and have discovered that the more I learn about anoles, the more I realize I don't know.
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Wendy Lee
Thanks for posting this, Jonathan!
Robert Powell
Is it “cannibalism” when an adult of one species consumes an individual of another species? I thought the standard definition was the eating of any animal by another member of the same species.
Jonathan Losos
Of course you’re right, Bob, but since anoles are one big happy familly…
Clarke Atkins
Jonathon, I am naive about anoles. I wonder about the “eye-like” structure on the forehead of the anole in photo 3 (from above). I wonder if that is a sensory organ (or just a blemish :). It looks a bit like the 3rd eye of The Buddha.
Thanks for posting and any reply.
Clarke
Jonathan Losos
Clarke, good spot! Read more about it here: https://www.anoleannals.org/2012/06/14/sensory-ecology-of-the-third-eye/
Clarke Atkins
Jonathon, Fascinating and thanks for the education.
I will be examining my green anole for her extra (2) eyes.
I look forward to your future contributions and reading each of the references you provided.