A female A. carolinensis in Ocklawaha, FL moments after laying an egg.
Anyone know of any new phylogeny work on carolinensis? The animals here in Ocklawaha, FL appear so unique. Thin bodied, long limbs. Males are small. I know sagrei pushed them to new heights via rapid evolution, but has this “morph” always been in the forest? Sagrei, I would guess, might be more recent here? Maybe a historic clade that escaped pet trade exploitation? I only see females when they’re down laying eggs. They’re fast and cold give Miami distichus a run for their money.
Latest posts by Kenny Barnett (see all)
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Steven A. Nole
Being north of the tropic of cancer, Florida and the southeastern lowcountry are technically subtropical, but thanks to the double whammy of introduced species and climate change, it’s becoming as red in tooth and claw as the bonafide tropics!
So, we can expect more of these “morphs” to evolve as our beloved anolees adapt to this increasingly hostile environment.
jacque
As long as the green anole continues to survive in Florida, I have no problem with adaptation. Longer legs ………. heck yeah.
Steven A. Nole
Well, the new kids on the block are forcing them into less suitable ecological niches where food is less abundant and predation is more prevalent.
Why did green anoles in the southeastern US, including old Florida, tend to forage on and near the ground rather than in treetops? Because food was more abundant down here, and lizard eating birds and squirrels were slightly less so.
It may appear as if they are evolving smaller sizes, when in fact, they could simply be malnourished and longing for a big juicy grasshopper. It may appear as if they are evolving greater speed, when in fact, they could be simply running for their very lives.
Fortunately, the land lubbing greens of old should persist in upland areas further north, where colder winters are likely to keep tropical invasives in check, and range expansion may even occur as the climate warms slightly.
Steven A. Nole
I just want to add that green anoles situated near the ground may fare better during wind events such as hurricanes, tropical storms, and nor’easters, on average, than ones perched up in canopies. I’ve ventured out during storms before and witnessed them hanging on for dear life, I could only imagine the plight of those up in the treetops
They’re a relatively tame lizard and they seem almost domesticated at times. Like dogs, they make direct eye contact with humans, which seems uncanny.
It’s a shame what is happening to them as a result of these newcomers, but alas, as far as the low country is concerned, it is what it is.
Antoinette Keen
i have 2 of them living on my lanai. they are social & almost tame. 1 of them eats mealworms from my hand
Stephen R Sparks
I live in both in Northern and Central Florida. I have no Sagrei anoles in the nothern area and no Carolinensis anoles in the southern area, allowing me to note differences among the two. One thing I have noticed is that Sagrei anoles will, almost always, bob their head before consuming a mealworm, whereas the Carolinensis anoles do not. These are all in the wild and non-captive. There are a great many more Sagrei anoles that compete with one another in the Southern area but not so many Carolinensis in the Northern area. It’s almost as if the Sagrei anoles are bowing their heads in some kind of “prayer” before eating. I can’t seem to find anything about this except as it may relate to messaging other nearby Anoles to stay clear while they are eating. Any ideas?
Rolly Polly Anole
I’ve seen browns displaying dewlaps and doing pushups while feasting on large insects such as outdoor cockroaches. I figured they were celebrating and strutting their stuff.
The brown anoles here look so healthy and well fed compared to the green ones, I have to feed the greens just to keep them around. I suspect their rotundness is caused by more than just bugs, as there aren’t many insects in this yard, but that cannibalism plays a significant role as well.
Antoinette Keen
Nearly all my critters do the push up, head -bobbing thing while eating, & 1 male in particular does it when i wear a certain Florida-style sundress! I’m sure it’s the bright colors and tropical patterns in red that captures his attention. Try it sometime with yours & see what they do, I’m curious if this is a routine behavior.