Karen Cusick, proprietor of Daffodil’s Photo Blog, watched this green anole turn from green to brown. Or mostly brown. I’ve seen this sometimes myself. Anyone know what’s going on here? Seen it in other green anoles?
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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Skip Lazell
No ideas? Well, I have spent a lot of my life with A. carolinensis, from 13 months to 77+ years, and have not seen one blotchy like that yet…. I’ll look even harder! Skip
William Robertson
I recall reading a long time ago that a persistently mottled coloration indicates that the anole is sick.
James T. Stroud
I’ve seen a individuals like this, especially in cold days in South Florida. I think it has something to do with that.
(If any of you can believe that it gets “cold” in South Florida!)
Rebecca Sykes
I’ve seen several like this in the past few years here in Manvel, Texas. Not sure if it’s related to colder days as I read in another post but that’s possible. I did see one about a week ago when it was pretty chilly.
Ambika Kamath
I have a couple of examples! First, a photo from twitter user Austin Fuchs, which came to my attention via David Steen. This one definitely looks sick/injured/botfly infested:
https://twitter.com/AustinFuchs/status/783146528785530880?lang=en
And second, an individual I saw while doing fieldwork in Gainesville in 2015, who seems to be in slightly better shape:
https://twitter.com/ambikamath/status/783149073641517056
Skip Lazell
Ah! Getting some data with which to construct testable hypotheses: good!
Thanks, Skip
nakkimo
I have one male A caroliensis which has a green spot like this.
Other than that he seems ok and is feeding well.