Reptiles · Squamata · Dactyloidae

Green Anole

Anolis carolinensis

Not Evaluated

It has not yet been assessed against the IUCN criteria. See full glossary

Popularly known as the American chameleon for its ability to switch between green and brown, though it is not related to the true chameleons.

Weight

up to 3 g

Size

12.7 cm – 20.3 cm

Lifespan

3 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Unknown

Temperate forestInsectivore Diurnal Solitary Reptile Temperate forest

32countries 12parks 1ecological relationships1same family

Fun facts

The female can store sperm for at least 7 months through a process called amphigonia retardata.
It eats small insects such as crickets, flies, moths, ants and spiders.
It is declining locally through competition with the brown anole, an invasive species.
regeneraciónIt can regrow its tail after losing it, though the new one is cartilage rather than bony vertebrae.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Woodland, gardens and wooded country of the south-eastern United States
Birth weight: Small egg, 6x4.5 mm on average; hatchling 5.2-6.7 cm long
Size at birth: 5.2 - 6.7 cm long at hatching
Sexual maturity: 8-9 months
Gestation / incubation: 5-7 weeks (35-49 days)
Litter / clutch size: 1 egg per clutch, repeated every 2 weeks throughout the breeding season (up to 15-18 eggs a season)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 7.2 years in captivity

Sources consulted: Dimensions.com; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); NHPBS NatureWorks; A-Z Animals; Animalia.bio; Animal Diversity Web; Exo Terra; The Animal Facts