Brown anole

The specific name, sagrei, is in honor of Spanish botanist Ramón de la Sagra. == Description ==

The brown anole is normally a light brown color with darker brown to black markings on its back, and several tan to light color lines on its sides. Like other anoles, it can change color; individuals can change their general body coloration to shades of brown, black, or gray, and some display yellowish dots when excited. Color shifts can be rapid in response to threats. Its dewlap ranges from yellow to orange-red. The males can grow as large as their male Carolina anole counterparts, around long, with some individuals topping . The females are also around the size of female Carolina anoles, which ranges from . The male brown anole's head is smaller than that of the male Carolina anole. Female anolis lizards exhibit heritable polymorphism in their dorsal patterning. A study in Gainesville, Florida reported that one-third of A. sagrei females displayed a male-like chevron dorsal pattern, while other females had a striped dorsal pattern with continuous variation. File:Brown Anole - Anolis Sagrei, by Frédéric Trudeau (cropped).jpg|Male extending dewlap File:Brown Anole, Florida.jpg|Florida female File:Closeupanole.jpg|Female File:Cuban brown anole (Anolis sagrei sagrei) juvenile.JPG|Grand Cayman juvenile == Removal ==

In Taiwan, an investigation discovered that distribution of this foreign species was increasing, posing potential competitive crowding out effect towards the native species such as Diploderma swinhonis and Takydromus formosanus in Taiwan. Therefore, the monitoring removal plan was being carried out in 2009. The current removal methods include manual removal, improving the habitat, capturing with traps, biological control, and drug control. The most effective way of capturing Anolis sagrei is to capture with bare hands at night . == Habitat and distribution ==

The native range of the brown anole extends over much of the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and other countries. Currently, they are considered an invasive species in parts of Florida in the United States, including the Florida Keys, Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County as of 1985. Today, their range has extended as far as Georgia and through Texas to parts of Mexico. It is believed that these lizards were unintentionally brought to the area in cargo shipments for the Caribbean, as well as an intentional release of approximately 100 individuals in 1941. The brown anole tends to live on the ground, avoiding trees and preferring to live in smaller plants and shrubs and is found in both urban and suburban areas. Brown anoles are less arboreal than the green anoles which are frequently found living in trees, on the ground, or in low vegetation. Although the brown anole was initially found in the Caribbean and then introduced to southern Florida, the species is now moving north. Specifically, the species has been found in southern Georgia as well as coastal Georgia. Researchers expect that this trend will continue in the coming years and that the brown anole will continue to migrate to other locations in the north. Due to their invasiveness, they are often the dominant reptile species in a given environment. == Conservation ==

While the brown anole is an invasive species in the United States, Some research suggests that local spider populations depend directly on the population of the brown anole. Additionally, the brown anole has been shown to be responsible for the transmission of parasites among lizard populations in Hawaiʻi, which are often deadly for these local populations. == Phylogeny ==

The brown anole belongs to the family and genus, Datyloidae and Anolis, respectively. The most closely related species to Anolis sagrei is Anolis nelsoni, also called Nelson's anole. The brown anole has a shorter snout length than the green anole. The green anole, or Anolis carolinensis, is green or light brown patterned. == Territoriality ==

Male-male competition Studies suggest that male brown anoles exhibit territoriality over ground below perches on which they rest. When the male anole spots other males in his ground territory, he is very likely to put on displays to attempt to intimidate the competitor. The size of a male also correlates with the height of his perch; that is, larger males are more often found on higher perches and smaller males on lower ones. Habitat migration Under certain circumstances, brown anoles leave their current territory and migrate to a new one. Males migrate to new territories in response to male-male competition, with smaller males being more likely to migrate. The distance that a male migrates is negatively correlated with his size relative to other males; large males travel shorter distances to new territories and small males travel longer distances to new territories. Female brown anoles do not show an association between size and probability of migration or migration distance. Instead, females in territories with a high density of other females are more likely to move to territories with lower densities of other females. Generally, individuals, regardless of sex, prefer to remain in their original territory as migrating poses predation risks and energetic costs. == Diet ==

Brown anoles feed on small arthropods such as crickets, moths, ants, grasshoppers, cockroaches, mealworms, beetles, flies, earwigs, butterflies, spiders, waxworms, amphipods, and isopods. == Reproduction ==

In a given habitat, female brown anoles reproduce in the warmer parts of the year. Dewlap extension occurs alongside a number of behaviors exhibited by the brown anole, namely during courtship. During observation, females that mated with multiple males did so because dominance over a territory transferred between males, while the female remained in the same territory. There were no observations of female brown anoles seeking out different males or entering a new territory. A female will lay one egg at a time and can lay a new egg each week of the reproductive season. == Predators ==

Known predators of the brown anole include broad-headed skinks, snakes, birds, and occasionally other species of anoles. More often than not, brown anoles eaten by other anoles are juvenile. Predation by many vertebrates has been observed. Spiders can prey upon young anoles and are one of the few exceptions to this observation. Antipredator behavior The coloration of the brown anole allows it to easily blend in with its surroundings, making it difficult for predators to spot. The brown anole has a detachable tail that can be detached if the anole is grabbed by the tail by a predator or used as a distraction, as it twitches after detaching. The tail grows back afterwards, albeit smaller and a duller color. Despite the extensive list of predators, the lizard's alertness and sprint speed make it very difficult for predators to track and capture. == Physiology ==

Hindlimb length When raised in terraria with surfaces differing in width (wide or narrow), brown anoles wide-surface terraria grew longer hindlimb than their narrow-surface terraria counterparts. Brown anoles demonstrate phenotypic plasticity in this trait, akin to very rapid evolution. Dewlap Nearly all species of anole, including the Anolis sagrei, have a dewlap on their throat. The dewlap can be used as a means of identifying specific species within the Dactyloidae family. This is useful for not only mate selection between male anoles, but also to ensure the female is indeed mating with an individual within their own species. Dewlaps are believed to be involved in mate selection, as well as communication between individual brown anoles. == Shedding ==

Brown anoles molt in small pieces, unlike some other reptiles, which molt in one large piece. Anoles may consume the molted skin to replenish supplies of calcium. In captivity, the molted skin may stick to the anole if humidity is too low. The unshed layer of skin can build up around the eyes, preventing the lizard from feeding and may lead to starvation. This can be prevented by maintaining high humidity., Texas == Communication ==

Anoles use visual cues as their primary signaling mode. == References ==