Puerto Rican crested anole

Geographic range

This lizard is found throughout Puerto Rico and has been introduced into eastern Hispaniola, Dominica, and Florida. Another subspecies, Anolis cristatellus wileyae, is found on islands off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, such as Culebra and Vieques, and also on the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Habitat

These lizards typically spend their time perched on tree trunks, coming to the ground to forage for insects and fruit.

Description

Coloration may vary significantly from a brownish-red to a dark black or a very light gray, and can shift in reaction to temperature and behavioral state. They are often incorrectly referred to as chameleons because of their ability to slightly change color, but they are not related to true chameleons. They have a crest along the tail, probably serving as means for males to demonstrate dominance in a contest for a female. The male has a bright yellow-orange dewlap which is also used in determining dominance when attempting to control territory. They are usually 5-8 inches in length, but can occasionally grow up to 10 inches.

Behavior

When looking for a mate or defending its territory, this anole will display its dewlap and perform "push-ups" to establish dominance. Males aggressively defend territories when mating, but only rarely does this result in physical combat. As a defense against predators, they autotomize their tails.

Distribution

The Puerto Rican crested anole is found throughout Puerto Rico, excepting some of the mountainous regions of the island. They are also found on some offshore islands of Puerto Rico. Anoles have been introduced into southern Florida and eastern Dominican Republic. They are sold globally in the pet trade.

Diet

Anoles mainly eat spiders and small invertebrates, but will occasionally eat fruit on the ground. They will sometimes even eat other anoles, due to territorial disputes or food scarcity.