Photo: Pedro Genaro Rodriguez, iNaturalist
Hi! It’s been brought to my attention that I haven’t done a small anole in a while. Today’s anole is a grass-bush anole, Anolis olssoni, also known as the Desert Grass or Monte Cristi anole.
This anole is native to Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). There are eightsubspecies of the Desert Grass anole found in different locations on the island.
Photo: Pedro Genaro Rodriguez, iNaturalist
Like other grass-bush anoles, Anolis olssoni has a slender body and a very long tail, as well as brown colouring and lateral striping. Grass-bush anoles tend to move by hopping and have long hindlimbs. For this ecomorph, the SVL ranges from 33-51 mm, with the Desert Grass anole somewhere around 39-50 mm, depending on the subspecies.
Subspecies vary from each other by colour, either being darker or paler, as well as by scale pattern. Lighter-coloured Desert Grass anole subspecies are found in xeric areas, while darker-coloured subspecies are found in more mesic areas. The dewlap of this species is a rusty orange with yellow scales.
Photo: Francis Reyes, iNaturalist
...And also like every other anole. Every week. #DidYouAnole?
- #DidYouAnole – Anolis allogus - December 24, 2021
- #DidYouAnole – Anolis gundlachi - November 12, 2021
- #DidYouAnole – Anolis phyllorhinus - November 5, 2021
Rick Wallach
Chelsea – what’s the ecological status of this species? I note many reptiles and birds from Hispanola are classified as in some degree of existential peril. These are pretty little creatures.
Chelsea Connor
It looks like they are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List! And they’re definitely very cute.
Rick Wallach
Good to know. And yeah, they are pretty – surprised they haven’t made it to Florida yet.