Spring Time and the Green Anoles Are Back in Georgia
From the pages of Vanguard, the student newspaper of the University of North Georgia: The Green Anole is Back in Georgia Riley Hansen, Staff Writer • April 9, 2026 With spring weather on the rise, green anoles, a small lizard species native to…
Anole Chocolate!
Mashpi Chocolate sustainability farms chocolate to help preserve nature in Ecuador. And anoles are doing their part. As they say on their website: "All the ingredients we use in Mashpi Chocolate are grown in an agroecological and regenerative way, next to cocoa trees and within…
Dinámicas Evolutivas y de Diversificación en Regiones Montañosas Tropicales
Al igual que cuando era estudiante de pregrado, me demoré un buen rato en decidir qué hacer para mi tesis doctoral, ya que tuve que replantear la mayor parte debido a la pandemia de COVID. Meses antes de mi propuesta,…
Dominance of Anolis under Imminent Threat — from Geckos!
Anolis has long enjoyed being the most speciose genus of reptiles with currently 435 described species (unless you subscribe to the generic split crowd supporting Dactyloa and such, of course). There was not even a close contender. That is…
The History of Anole Annals According to ChatGPT Chat
This all started with an innocent query: how long has Anole Annals been around? This led to a series of questions answered--for the most part accurately--by chapgpt. Unfortunately, the links didn't copy, but if you want to go to the posts…
Diversification and Evolutionary Dynamics in Tropical Montane Regions
Much like when I was an undergrad, I found myself trying to decide what to do for my PhD thesis, as I had to change or rethink most of it after COVID happened. Months before my proposal, I came across a really cool paper by…
What Grenadian Anoles Revealed about How Animals Establish Territories
There are a lot of classic studies on anoles. Some of the most groundbreaking started from a simple observation and someone’s curiosity. Judy Stamps seems to have had lots of these “huh…” moments. Her studies on anole behavior…
Knight Anoles Spreading through Florida–Will They Get to Georgia?
from the Wildlife Society: Florida towns facilitate spread of knight anoles March 2, 2026 News, Wildlife News by Joshua Rapp Learn Giant Cuban anoles have found footholds in habitats across Florida thanks to expanding human…
It’s Not What You Eat, It’s Where You Deplete: Resource Competition between Introduced Lizards in Hawaii
Left: gold dust day gecko handling a spider in the vegetation. Center: green anole handling a moth. Right: brown anole surveying the ground. Or, "Prey depletion by a predator guild suggests…
Ecuador’s Eccentric Anoles
Ecuador is one of the most biodiversity-rich and unique locations in the world - especially for herps. Currently, there are 207 species of lizards there, 41 of which are some of the most spectacular anole species around (Arteaga 2025). As a herp wildlife photographer and…
Mythic Peruvian Anoles Rediscovered
The rediscovery of Anolis laevis is one of those stories that seem written to remind us why biological exploration remains indispensable. Described in 1876 from a single specimen, holotype ANSP 11368, and then lost to science for a century and a half, this small…
Peruvian Islands Foster Rapid Morphological Evolution in Introduced Lizards
As well exemplified by a significant fraction of anole research, islands can act as natural laboratories of evolution. With limited space, fewer predators, simplified communities, and isolation from the mainland, islands…
From Tiny Spines to Sticky Toes: What Cyrtodactylus Geckos Can Tell Us about the Evolution of Stickiness in Lizards
Like anoles, geckos are famous for their adhesive toepads, enabling astonishing climbing abilities. Since adhesive toepads evolved independently in geckos and anoles, these two…
Knight Anole Meets Cat
Happy ending: they both lived to see another day thanks to the screen between them! Thanks to Miriam Lipsky for the photo from Miami.
Want to Know More about Anole Behaviour?
JUST PUBLISHED: Understanding Animal Behaviour is a non-fiction graphic novel featuring anoles and other lizards. This isn’t a kid's book or comic. It is written for adult readers interested in understanding why animals do what they do and how researchers…
Breaking News: Green Anole Savagely Bites Stephen Colbert
Ok, not actually breaking news--occurred almost eight years ago, but somehow word never reached Anole Annals. People magazine tells the story: Published on April 21, 2018 12:55PM EDT Nearly three years after taking over The Late Show…
Invasive Brown Anoles More Aggressive to Native Greens at Higher Temperatures
Tulane University reports: Study: Invasive lizards’ tempers flare with the heat Stacey Plaisance splaisance@tulane.edu
Hurricanes as a Source of Episodic Natural Selection on Lizards
from the pages of Rhody Today: URI’s Jason Kolbe studying hurricanes as a source of episodic natural selection Storm study shows adaptive selection in southeast lizards A new study led by URI’s Jason Kolbe examines adaptive selection…
How Lizards Use Skin Color to Control Their Body Temperature
We’ve long known that some lizards change color for camouflage or communication, but our new research reveals their skin may also act as a dynamic thermal regulator. Our study published in Animals explores how the green anole (Anolis…
Where Do Green Anoles Go to Sleep? Night Life in the Ogasawara Islands
Sleep is one of the most fundamental states for animals, including humans and wildlife. When people travel to unfamiliar places, one of their first concerns is often where they will sleep that night — at least it is for me.…
Pointy Snouted Green Anole Has a Thing for Star Fruit
And who could blame the little green lady--star fruit are delicious! Miriam Lipsky of Miami explains: "The star fruits (carambola) are indeed from my yard! I was picking them to give to a friend, since no one in my family really likes them…
Miami Knights: Urbanization Facilitates an Invasive Anole
The Cuban knight anole (Anolis equestris) was intentionally introduced to South Florida in the 1950s. Since then, they have spread along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, into southwest Florida, and into the Florida Keys. Currently, these anoles…
At Lunch and for Lunch: Observations on Anolis Predator / Prey Interactions in South Florida
On December 4, 2025 I observed an Anolis (probably A. sagrei) preying upon an adult or subadult ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus) in a relictual hardwood hammock forest in Miami, Florida, USA. The…
The Geography of Stickiness: What Gecko Feet Reveal about Evolution
Like in Anolis lizards, the evolution of adhesive toepads in geckos is often seen as a key innovation, allowing these lizards to exploit vertical environments. Gecko toepads are among the most advanced in the animal kingdom –…
A Closer Look at Color: Female-Driven Dewlap Dichromatism in Anoles
Dewlaps—the extensible throat ornaments of anoles—are classically viewed as male secondary sexual traits used in mate attraction and rival assessment. However, many species exhibit fully developed female dewlaps, and in numerous…
See How They Run: Observing Lizards Helps Researchers Aim for Innovation
From the Pages of Syracuse University Today: Diane Stirling Nov. 21, 2025 Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes How geckos and anoles use sticky toepads and claws to run, climb and jump is providing clues for innovations to help…
Color-changing Females: Just Blending in or Born to Stand Out??
Across the Anolis genus, color and color change are used in a variety of ways, from camouflage to signaling. While many studies have focused on male coloration, few have explored the more subtle females and the role that their…
Jamaican Crown-Giant Anole Weathers Hurricane Melissa
Inbar Mayaan writes: As you know, Jamaica was very badly hit by Hurricane Melissa. It made landfall in the southwest part of the island and cut across through to the north central coast before continuing northward. Images and videos are…
Anoles as the Gateway to Science Advocacy
Prologue Nearly 1500 posts. Over 300 contributors. Worldwide readership. Since its origin 15 years ago, Anole Annals has left its mark on anole researchers, reptile enthusiasts, and people curious about why these little tree lizards enchant so many of us.…
Spoil Islands in Florida: an Opportunity for Anole Experiments in the Wild
Invasive species are a growing problem across our increasingly globalized planet. They are often adept at establishing stable population sizes very quickly, which allows them to outcompete native species for access to…