Size but Not Relatedness Drives the Spatial Distribution of Males Within an Urban Population of Anolis carolinensis Lizards

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On April 14, 2021

In New Lit Abstracts

Anolis carolinensis, photo by Delton Howard

New literature alert!

Size but not relatedness drives the spatial distribution of males within an urban population of Anolis carolinensis lizards

In Ecology and Evolution
Weber, Anthony, and Lailvaux

Abstract

The way that individuals are spatially organized in their environment is a fundamental population characteristic affecting social structure, mating system, and reproductive ecology. However, for many small or cryptic species, the factors driving the spatial distribution of individuals within a population are poorly understood and difficult to quantify. We combined microsatellite data, remote sensing, and mark–recapture techniques to test the relative importance of body size and relatedness in determining the spatial distribution of male Anolis carolinensis individuals within a focal population over a five‐year period. We found that males maintain smaller home ranges than females. We found no relationship between male body size and home range size, nor any substantial impact of relatedness on the geographic proximity. Instead, the main driver of male spatial distribution in this population was differences in body size. We also found no evidence for offspring inheritance of their parent’s territories. Males were never sampled within their father’s territory providing strong support for male‐biased dispersal. This study introduces a novel approach by combining standard mark release capture data with measures of pairwise relatedness, body size, and GPS locations to better understand the factors that drive the spatial distribution of individuals within a population.

Read the full paper here!

Congrats to the Newest Anole PhD: Dr. Avilés-Rodríguez!

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On April 13, 2021

In All Posts

A PhD that started with a hurricane and ended with a pandemic couldn’t slow down Kevin Avilés-Rodríguez — this past Friday Kevin became the newest anole doctorate when he defended his dissertation over Zoom on the interacting effects of urbanization and hurricane Maria on Anolis cristatellus.

Congratulations to Dr. Avilés-Rodríguez! And check out his amazing celebratory cake!

Google Trends Suggest that Green Anoles have become Less Popular as Pets

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On April 12, 2021

In New Lit Abstracts

https://www.wikihow.com/Set-up-a-Green-Anole-Tank

New literature alert!

Using Google Trends to Determine Current, Past, and Future Trends in the Reptile Pet Trade

In Animals
Jose W. Valdez

Abstract

Reptiles are one of the most popular exotic pets in the world, with over a third of all described species currently being traded. However, the most commonly available reptiles are typically non-threatened, captive-bred, and/or domestically obtained, which means they are also largely unregulated and unmonitored, resulting in a large portion of the reptile pet trade remaining unknown. In this study, the past, current, and future trends of the most popular reptiles in the pet trade were examined. Google Trends was used to determine the global popularity of the most popular pets from 2004 to 2020 and compared to the results from an online survey sent to individuals involved in the reptile trade. The most popular pets from the previous five years were also compared globally across regions and countries. The results determined that the most popular reptile species during the last decade is by far bearded dragons, followed by ball pythons and leopard geckos. Although the survey results were similar when asked what the top reptiles were, most respondents named ball pythons as the most popular reptile. However, when asked what reptiles had lost the most popularity during the previous decade, the survey respondents named green iguanas, Burmese pythons, chameleons, red-eared sliders, and green anoles, concurring with what was found with Google Trends. The reptiles thought to be more popular in the upcoming decade by the survey participants were blue-tongued skinks, tegus, uromastyx, crested geckos, and ball pythons—most of which did indeed show an increase in popularity during the last decade, as indicated with Google Trends. The results from Google Trends demonstrated that ball pythons and crested geckos have increased their popularity more than any other reptile in the last two decades. Reptile popularity also differed between countries, with bearded dragons the most popular reptile in Australia, Western Europe, the U.S., and Canada. Leopard geckos were the most popular reptile in Italy and Turkey, and ball pythons were the reptile of choice in Mexico, Indonesia, and India. The general finding of this study is that the reptiles declining in popularity were mostly wild-caught or restricted due to regulations, while current and future species were captive-bred and available in many varieties or morphs. The most popular species were also docile, medium-sized, and easy to handle, with relatively simple care requirements. This study demonstrates that Google Trends can be a useful tool for determining relative popularity among reptiles, or any other pet group, with results closely mirroring those obtained through direct surveying of people involved in the pet trade. However, unlike surveys, this analysis is quick, quantifiable, and can show what is popular and in-demand not only at the global level but at much finer scales. Thus, Google Trends can be a valuable tool in many research applications, especially in topics that may otherwise be difficult to monitor and quantify.

Read the full paper here!

Anolis allisoni in Florida: a Mini-Documentary

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On April 10, 2021

In All Posts

#DidYouAnole – Anolis pulchellus

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On April 8, 2021

In All Posts


Photo: Steve Silvestrini, iNaturalist

Hello again!

I thought we’d continue with very small anoles and so I picked another grass-bush anole! Anolis pulchellus, also known as the Puerto Rican bush anole or the Sharp-mouthed lizard (locally).

This anole is from Puerto Rico, but is also found on the islands of Culebra, Vieques, and a majority of the Virgin Islands. The Sharp-mouthed lizard is one of the most common lizards in Puerto Rico. They have an average SVL of 35-43 mm and are yellow-brown in colour with a lateral tan stripe from its mouth to the base of its tail. The dewlaps of the males are purple at the neck, fading into crimson.

Image
Photo: Alex Gunderson, Twitter

It has been reported to show aquatic tendencies, jumping into nearby water when approached and swimming to safety. They are also able to sit on the surface of the water without penetrating it, and when submerged, they have a silvery appearance due to a thin layer of air surrounding its body, much like Anolis aquaticus.

In another unexpected move from this tiny anole, it has also been found engaging in carnivory. Carnivory tends to be common in anoles, but usually in the ones larger than the grass-bush ecomorph, think Crested Anoles, and they eat lizards smaller themselves. Here you can find a report of a Sharp-mouth lizard consuming a Big-scaled Dwarf gecko.


Photo: Kevin de Queiroz, Jonathan Losos

Evidence also suggests that Sharp-mouthed anoles may be hybridising with another, very similar grass anole found in Puerto Rico, Anolis krugi. Check out the post (and paper) on this here.

#DidYouAnole – Anolis olssoni

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On April 1, 2021

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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

More Anoles on Postage Stamps

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On March 24, 2021

In All Posts

Over the years, Anole Annals has featured several posts on the appearance of anoles on postage stamps from countries around the world (e.g., 1, 2, 3), mostly thanks to Uwe Bartelt. Now AA stalwart George Gorman has taken up the mantle.

In reference to the stamps above, George writes:

“Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa somehow must have learned from P.T. Barnum that there’s a sucker born every minute. As a collector of anoles on postage stamps , I couldn’t  refrain from purchasing this recent issue that featured two very classy anoles: Anolis gorgonae and A. proboscis (male and female). I would bet there aren’t five people in Djibouti who have ever heard of these species, let alone who worry that they are endangered.”

And with regard to the famous iguana ecomorph (below), George writes: “I had enough trouble dealing with Dactyloa and “Norops” and the like… but this is getting out of hand. This mini-stamp- sheet from Nevis .. (ok.. it is labeled “reptiles of the Caribbean”)  identifies the creature as…Anegada Ground Iguana, Cyclura pinguis!”

Finally, I can’t keep from reprising a post of mine from nine years ago, in which I point out that one of my photographs was used without permission on a postage stamp. Anyone know a good anole intellectual property attorney?

 

Detection of Anolis carolinensis Using Drone Images and a Deep Neural Network: An Effective Tool for Controlling Invasive Species

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On March 22, 2021

In New Lit Abstracts

By Peter van der Sluijs – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33133626

New literature alert!

Detection of Anolis carolinensis using drone images and a deep neural network: an effective tool for controlling invasive species

In Biological Invasions
Aota, Ashizawa, Mori, Toda, and Chiba

Abstract

Invasive species greatly disrupt island ecosystems, risk assessment and the conservation of native ecosystems have therefore become pressing concerns. However, the cost of monitoring invasive species by humans is often high. In this study, we developed a system to detect an invasive lizard species, Anolis carolinensis, that threatens the native insect ecosystem of the Ogasawara Islands in Japan. Surveying these forest lizards requires specialized field observers, a challenge that prevents the government of Japan from efficient conservation and management of this ecosystem. The proposed system detects these lizards in drone images using a type of machine learning called deep neural network. Data were collected using a drone on Ani-jima in the Ogasawara Islands, and the trained network shows approximately 70% precision of detecting A. carolinensis. This study shows the combination of remote sensing and machine learning have the potential to contribute to an efficient and effective approach to conserving ecosystems.

Read the full paper here!

#DidYouAnole – Ranking This Year’s Anoles (so far)

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On March 18, 2021

In All Posts

Hello!!

It’s me again, but I don’t have an anole this week. This week I actually am going to share some of my personal anole rankings with you. I’m only going to use the anoles I’ve talked about so far for the year and I will give you very good reasons why.

Tell me what yours would be, I’d love to know. I read all your comments.

 

#7 – Anolis landestoyi, Hispanolian Chameleon anole

Photo: Miguel Landestoy

I love false chameleons and I can’t wait for us to know more about this closely related anole. It has amazing camouflage (lichen is always a good choice).

 

#6 – Anolis cuvieri, Puerto Rican Giant anole

Photo from Anolis cuvieri on the prowl”

Juveniles are brown and shift to green when they mature!

 

#5 – Anolis garmani, Jamaican Giant anole

Photo: Tom McLellan

Crown-giants are one of my favourite anole ecomorphs. I haven’t gotten the chance to see one in person, but growing up on an island with iguanas, large green lizards have a special place in my heart. The Jamaican Giant anole also shares its territory with other males for some time.

 

#4 – Anolis agassizi, Mapelo Island anole

Blue feet, permanently erect crest (on large males), and beautiful spotted patterning make this anole visually striking. Also of note is its weird interest in the colour orange. Why? Who knows, but I will gladly research this quirk if anyone wants to fund that.

 

#3 – Anolis lucius, Slender Cliff anole

Photo: Shea Lambert

Built-in sunglasses will take you pretty far in life, especially if you’re a cave dwelling lizard (possibly).

 

#2 – Anolis equestris, Cuban Knight Anole

Photo: Karl Guyton II

The largest known anole species! I appreciate this crown-giant, especially the A. e. poitor subspecies also known as the ‘Blue Beauty’.

 

#1 – Anolis bartschi, Western Cliff anole

More blue feet!
This clever little cliff dwelling anole has a lot of odd or uncommon behaviours that I would love to observe, including communal nesting in rock crevices. Read about the rest of them in the post! They’re definitely a dream study species as well.

#DidYouAnole? – Anolis landestoyi

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On March 11, 2021

In All Posts

Photo by Miguel Landestoy

Hello, it’s me your favourite PhD student!
If you don’t follow me on Twitter I was celebrating getting into a PhD program last week. I’m still really excited but the anoles wait for no one and I found an anole I really like so I’m here to pass this knowledge on to you.

This week’s anole is Anolis landestoyi, another chameleon-like anole, and closely related to the anoles of the chamaeleonides clade of Cuba.

These anoles, found in the forest of the Dominican Republic, have an SVL of 122-135 mm and short tails. Similar to the chamaeleonides anoles, they have large heads, though not quite as large as the snail-eating anoles.

How a Well-Hidden Giant Got Uncovered: the Discovery of a New Anole Species from Hispaniola - Anole Annals
Photo: Miguel Landestoy

Anolis landestoyi is a mossy green in colour with spotches of brown, giving it a similar appearance to tree bark covered in the lichen or moss that are abundant in its range. Males have a pale coloured dewlap with some light blue and white stripes, while females have smaller slightly lighter coloured dewlaps. Like other chameleon-like anoles, their diet includes various species of arthropods, but no mention of snails sadly.

Anolis landestoyi (2 of 2) [image] | EurekAlert! Science News
Photo: Miguel Landestoy

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