AA reader John Thomas questions whether curly-tailed lizards (Leiocephalus carinatus) actually eat anoles, based on his own observations in Florida (see comments on this post). Let’s see proof, he says! Bob Powell rightly points out the scientific literature on this topic and refers to the Schoener et al. paper from 1982 on the diet of curly-tails in the Bahamas. And here’s a photo from that paper! I’ve seen at least two other photos people have taken of such predation–anyone got more?
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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Philip M Fortman
Here in SE Florida, in an area where in 2012, I photographed an animated fight between two male Anole sagrei: the territory encompassing a front walk way and silver buttonwood hedge, has been completely taken over by curly-tailed lizards (Leiocephalus carinatus). No Anole have been observed in the area for a year or more. I pass through the area daily and only observe Curly-Tails in a range of sizes.