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The Brown Anoles Scientific Name Is, Anolis Sagrei

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The Florida range of this species continues to expand into the northernmost and panhandle counties and populations have also become established in Georgia, Louisiana, and near Houston, TX. Accidental transport via motor vehicles and as accidental introductions (particularly as eggs) with transported live plants has been suggested as the likely source of these introductions (Campbell 1996).

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What Is The Species Native Geographical Location/Habitat?

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What Is The Species Native Geographical Location/Habitat?

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The Brown Anoles Native Location Is Cuba, The Bahamas

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Anolis sagrei (brown anole)

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Pictures

Picture

Title

Caption

Copyright

Adult

Anolis sagrei (brown anole); adult, habit, showing retractable dewlap. Paia, Maui, Hawaii, USA. July 2012.

©Forest Starr & Kim Starr - CC BY 4.0

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

Anolis sagrei (Cocteau in Duméril and Bibron, 1837)

Preferred Common Name

Other Scientific Names

Norops sagrei (Cocteau in Duméril and Bibron, 1837)

International Common Names

English: Bahamian brown anole; Cuban brown anole

Summary of Invasiveness

(brown anole) can be identified by its extensible throat fan that is often coloured yellow or reddish-orange and has a white line down the centre of its back. It is a habitat generalist that prefers the open vegetation of disturbed sites. It is a ground dweller but will venture several feet up into trees and shrubs. Norops sagrei N. sagrei competes with Anolis carolinensis and other introduced congeners and also preys on the hatchlings of A. carolinensis.

Taxonomic Tree

Top of page

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Metazoa

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Sauria

Family: Iguanidae

Genus: Norops

Species: Anolis sagrei

Description

Top of page Norops sagrei (brown anole) is a "trunk ground ecomorph" sensu (Williams, 1983 ). It is described as having an extensible throat fan that can be yellow to red-orange. This species can be between 13 and 21.3cm. It also has enlarged toe pads and a short snout (Campbell, 2002 ). Brown anoles can erect a dorsonuchal crest when exposed to certain stimuli. The tail may have a crest-like ridge, but this is highly variable between individuals and should not be confused with the dorsonuchal crest. Also, the tail is laterally compressed. Females have a light line down the middle of their backs, but males do not. They tend to have a lighter mid-dorsal stripe that is distinct and often boldly patterned in females and often indistinct in males. Individuals change their colours and patterns throughout this range (Ann Paterson., pers. comm., 2005). Male colour is highly variable, ranging from light grey to nearly jet-black and plain coloured - to covered dorsally with irregular dark patches or chevrons and a network of light lines. Females exhibit a large range of colour, but nearly always have some type of obvious wavy dorsal pattern along the midline of their back (Enature.com Field Guide, undated).

Distribution

Native range: Norops sagrei (brown anole) is native to Cuba, the Bahamas, and their satellite islands (Campbell, 2002).
Known introduced range: North America, Hawaii, Jamaica (Campbell, 2002). It has also been introduced into Grenada (Kolbe et al. 2004) and Saint Lucia ( Morton and Cox, 2011) and parts of east coast Central America.

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

Last updated: 10 Jan 2020

Habitat

Norops sagrei (brown anole) is a ground dweller but will venture up several feet into trees and shrubs and prefers drier areas. Individuals occur primarily on the trunks of trees and on the ground (Rand and Williams, 1969). Campbell (2002) reports that the brown anole is a habitat generalist that generally prefers fairly open vegetation of disturbed sites.

Habitat List

Terrestrial

Terrestrial - Managed

Disturbed areas

Present, no further details

Harmful (pest or invasive)

Urban / peri-urban areas

Present, no further details

Harmful (pest or invasive)

Biology and Ecology

Nutrition
Campbell (2002) states that, "Their native diet consists mainly of small arthropods, annelids, and molluscs."

Reproduction
Adult Norops sagrei (brown anoles) breed during the summer months (Lee et al. 1989; Tokarz et al. 1998). It is not clear when they establish territories. Although they become more conspicuous during the breeding season, there have been no empirical tests to determine their degree of territoriality during the non-breeding season. It is not clear whether they cease to defend territories at the end of the breeding season (Ann Paterson., pers. comm., 2005).

Means of Movement and Dispersal

Introduction pathways to new locations
Ship:Campbell (2002) states that, " N. sagrei arrived in the Florida Keys in the late 1800s and was inoculated to at least six separate ports in Florida in the 1940s."

Local dispersal methods
Boat:Parmley (2002) states that, "Campbell suggested vehicular rafting as the transport mode for northward dispersal of N. sagrei. He offers convincing evidence that Georgia brown anoles were transported along major interstates by northbound vehicles, probably "rafting" on recreational vehicles and boats, and/or in vehicles transporting landscaping plants."
Escape from confinement: Goldberg et al. (2002) states that, "The origin of the Hawaiian (Oahu) population is unknown, but it is believed that these anoles are descendents of released pets."

Impact Summary

Impact

The successful occupation of different types of habitats by Norops sagrei (brown anole) is attributed partly to its use of thermo-regulatory behaviours such as basking in solar radiation to select acceptable microclimates at different latitudes and altitudes (Rogowitz,1996). It is reported that brown anole when present, reduce the density and diversity of spiders upon which they feed (Wardle, 2002). Greene et al. (2002) state that, brown anole competes successfully with native green anole (see Anolis carolinensis in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) and other introduced congeners. Campbell (2002) observes that without the brown anole, the native green anole occupies perches from ground to crown, but the presence of the brown anole causes the green anole to move higher, occupying trunks and crowns of trees. Brown anole demonstrate intra-guild predation (IGP), which is defined as killing and eating among potential competitors and have been reported to prey on the hatchlings of green anole. N. sagrei have also been observed consuming hatchling brown anoles, although this behaviour is not well understood and it is not known whether this behaviour is common (Nicholson et al. 2000).

Risk and Impact Factors

Top of page Impact outcomes

Reduced native biodiversity

Threat to/ loss of endangered species

Threat to/ loss of native species

Impact mechanisms
Uses

Wardle (2002) reports findings which show that on islands without Norops spp. there is a great magnitude of leaf damage to sea grape ( Coccoloba uvifera L.) which is indicative of a lizard-induced trophic cascade.

Similarities to Other Species/Conditions

The green anole Anolis carolinensis is found throughout the southeastern United States and is the sole Anolis lizard native to North America north of Mexico. It belongs to a group of medium sized, slender, greenish trunk-crown anoles with long, wedge-shaped heads. This native lizard is capable of changing color to dark brown or even nearly black (often in early morning or near dusk), so it is often confused for the brown anole N. sagrei by laypersons. However, the brwon anole, with its short, wide head and robust body, looks a bit more "dinosaurian" than its green counterpart." The author also states that there is a discernable difference between the eggs of both species. Brown anole eggs have a more distinctly bumpier shell casing whereas, green anole shells have visible striations on it and have an all around darker appearance (Campbell, 2002).

Prevention and Control

Due to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.

Campbell (2002) observes that, no control or eradication measures have been implemented for Norops sagrei (brown anole), in Florida (North America) where it has established. He further adds that this species would be very difficult if not impossible to completely eradicate due to its high density, high reproductive potential, and habitat generality.

Bibliography

Bomford, M., 2003. Risk Assessment for the Import and Keeping of Exotic Vertebrates in Australia. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra. http://www.feral.org.au/feral_documents/PC12803.pdf

Campbell, T. 2002. The Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei Dumeril and Bibron 1837). The Institute for Biological Invasions: The Invader of the Month, February 2001. http://invasions.bio.utk.edu/invaders/sagrei.html

CONABIO. 2008. Sistema de información sobre especies invasoras en México. Especies invasoras - Reptiles. Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad. Fecha de acceso. http://www.conabio.gob.mx/invasoras/index.php/Especies_invasoras_-_Reptiles

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. UNDATED. Brown Anole (exotic) Anolis sagrei sagrei. Audubon Centers and Sanctuaries: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's Common Lizards. http://www.audubon.org/local/sanctuary/corkscrew/Wildlife/Lizards.html

eNature.com, 2007. Brown Anole, Anolis sagrei. Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians [Online Database]. http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?allSpecies=y&searchText=anolis%20sagrei&curGroupID=7&lgfromWhere=&curPageNum=1

.php/64188/all Gerrut, N., J. J. Mao, H. P. Chu, and L. C. Chen. 2002. A new record of an introduced species, the brown anole (Anolis sagrei) (Dumeril and Bibron, 1837), in Taiwan. Zoological Studies 41(3): 332-336.

Goldberg R. S., C. R. Bursey, and F. Kraus. 2002. Seasonal Variation in the Helminth Community of the Brown Anole, Anolis sagrei (Sauria: Polychrotidae), from Oahu, Hawaii. American Midland Naturalist 148:409-415.

Greene, B. T., D. T. Yorks, J. S. Parmerlee, R. Powell, and R. W. Henderson. 2002. Discovery of Anolis Sagrei in Grenada with Comments on Its Potential Impact on Native Anoles. Carribean Journal of Science 38(3-4): 270-272. College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico. http://academic.uprm.edu/publications/cjs/Vol38b/38_270-272.pdf

Kolbe, J.J., R.E. Glor, L.R. Schettino, A.C. Lara, A. Larson, and J.B. Losos. 2004. Genetic variation increases during biological invasion by a Cuban lizard. Nature 431:177-181

Lee, J. C., D. Clayton, S. Eisenstein, and I. Perez. 1989. The reproductive cycle of Anolis sagrei in southern Florida. Copeia 1989:930-937.

McMann S. 2000. Effects of residence time on displays during territory establishment in a lizard. Animal Behavior 59:513-522.

Nicholson, K.E., A.V. Paterson, and P.M. Richards., 2000. Anolis sagrei (brown anole) cannibalism. Herpetological Review 31(3):173-174.

Rogowitz, G. L. 1996. Evaluation of Thermal acclimation of Metabolism in Two Eurythermal Lozards, Anolis cristatellus and A. sagrei. Journal of Thermal Biology 21(1): 11-14.

The Reptile Database., 2007. Norpos sagrei http://www.tigr.org/reptiles/species.php?genus=Norops&species=sagrei

Tokarz, R. R. 1995. Importance of androgens in male territorial acquisition in the lizard Anolis sagrei: an experimental test. Animal Behavior 49: 661-669.

Tokarz, R. R., S. McMann, L. C. Smith, and H. J. Alder. 2002. Effects of Testosterone Treatment and Season on the Frequency of Dewlap Extensions during Male-Male Interactions in the Lizard Anolis sagrei. Hormones and Behavior 41: 70-79.

Tokarz, R. R., S. McMann, L. Seitz, and H. John-Alder. 1998. Plasma corticosterone and testosterone levels during the annual reproductive cycle of male brown anoles (Anolis sagrei). Physiological Zoology 71:139-146.

Varnham, K. 2006. Non-native species in UK Overseas Territories: a review. JNCC Report 372. Peterborough: United Kingdom. http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-3660

Wardle, D. A. 2002. Islands as model system for understanding how species affect ecosystem properties. Journal of Biogeography 29:583-591.

Williams, E. E., 1983. Ecomorphs, faunas, island size, and diverse endpoints in island radiations of Anolis. In R. B. Huey, E. R. Pianka, and T. W. Schoener (eds.), Lizard Ecology: Studies of A Model Organism. pp. 326-370. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

References

Frost DR, Hammerson GA, 2007. Anolis carolinensis. In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details
ISSG, 2011. Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). Invasive Species Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. http://www.issg.org/database
Morton MN, Cox CA, 2011. Cuban brown anoles (Anolis sagrei) in Saint Lucia. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians, 18(1):52-53. http://www.ircf.org/downloads/wwdigitalmembers/IRCFRA_181_web.pdf
US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2012. In: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing of the Miami Blue Butterfly as Endangered Throughout Its Range; Listing of the Cassius Blue, Ceraunus Blue, and Nickerbean Blue Butterflies as Threatened Due to Similarity of Appearance to the Miami Blue Butterfly i 77(67) US Fish and Wildlife Service, 20948-20986. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-06/pdf/2012-8088.pdf
Contributors

Reviewed by: Ann V. Paterson, Ph.D. Nell Mondy Chair, Department of Natural Sciences, Williams Baptist College USA

Compiled by: National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)

Distribution Maps

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Don't need the entire report? Generate a print friendly version containing only the sections you need. Picture Title Caption Copyright Adult Anolis sagrei (brown anole); adult, habit, showing retractable dewlap. Paia, Maui, Hawaii, USA. July 2012.

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Whats Is The Species Invaded Geographical Location/Habitat?

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Whats Is The Species Invaded Geographical Location/Habitat?

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The Brown Anoles Invaded Location Is Peninsular, Florida.

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Brown anoles invade Bermuda

The most common lizard in The Bahamas, the brown anole ( Anolis sagrei), has recently invaded and established itself on Bermuda.

With collaborator James Stroud of Florida International University and with support from the Bermuda Dept. of Conservation and Bermuda Zoological Society, I am examining how this aggressive invader might interact with Bermuda's only native lizard, the critically endangered Bermuda skink ( Plestiodon longirostris).

The brown anole is a native Bahamian species that has colonized some pretty large and distant areas including Taiwan, Singapore, Hawaii, California, Costa Rica and most of Florida. Given this incredibly broad invaded range, as well as it's native range of Cuba, The Bahamas, and the Cayman islands, we're not quite sure where the population in Bermuda came from. However, our guess is that the route of introduction to Bermuda was probably in potted nursery plants or building materials. If so, a probable source for this recent invasion seems like one of the many port cities the brown anole has already invaded such as Ft. Lauderdale. However, we can only speculate at this point. More work on this study is soon to come!

Some recent news coverage containing a bit more detail:

FIU press release: http://news.fiu.edu/2015/12/invasive-lizard-takes-up-residence-in-bermuda/94984

Discovery News: http://news.discovery.com/animals/invasive-cuban-lizard-settling-down-in-bermuda-151211.htm

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The most common lizard in The Bahamas, the brown anole ( Anolis sagrei), has recently invaded and established itself on Bermuda. With collaborator James Stroud of Florida International University and with support from the Bermuda Dept. of Conservation and Bermuda Zoological Society, I am examining how this aggressive invader might interact with Bermuda's only native lizard, the critically endangered Bermuda skink ( Plestiodon longirostris).

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The Brown Anole Was Introduced To Florida As a Cargo Hitchhiker Over 100 Years Ago

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A competition for shelter and food is raging across Florida, and two related lizard species have been adapting to the presence of each other for decades.

Florida's native green anoles (pronounced "uh-noles"), Anolis carolinensis, found themselves in competition with the Cuban brown anoles ( Anolis sagrei) over a century ago. Native to Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands, Cuban brown anoles are now the most common lizard in many urbanized parts of Florida.

The decline in green anoles may not be wholly caused by competition, but it is due in large part to the presence of the introduced Cuban brown anoles. However the green anoles have been able to adapt-at least for the time being. When brown anoles are present, native green anoles move vertically up in the habitat. This allows the lizards to partition the area and decrease competition. However, if there is nowhere in the habitat for the green anoles to move, they ultimately disappear from the area. And while brown anoles are known to prey on young green anoles, their more rapid reproduction may be giving the Cuban cousins another competitive advantage.

Eradication of Cuban brown anoles is impossible at this point; they are too widely distributed. But don't let that stop you from providing our native green anoles with adequate habitats, like tall shrubs and trees, that allow them to move up in the environment away from the brown anoles. Gardeners shouldn't get too down about this shift in lizard dominance, though. Both species are beneficial garden predators, catching and eating beetles, flies, spiders, roaches, and other small invertebrates. So while it is interesting to know that the Cuban brown anoles are out-competing the green anoles, don't worry that there's not much that can be done to rid your landscape of these invaders.

More about these two competitors

The green anole is commonly found in natural and suburban habitats through the state. These lizards are great climbers, which has helped them adapt to the introduction of Cuban brown anoles.

Adult green anoles grow to 5 to 8 inches long and males have a solid pink dewlap, or throat fan. While many people call these lizards "chameleons" because they can quickly change from bright green to dull brown, green anoles are not true chameleons, which are native to Africa and Madagascar.

The Cuban brown anole, often just called the brown anole, arrived in Florida as a cargo hitchhiker more than 100 years ago. Beyond that first introduction, studies of their DNA suggest there have been as many as seven additional invasion events of brown anoles into the state. Since its arrival, this small lizard has spread across Florida; today they can be found in both disturbed and natural habitats. Adult brown anoles are 5 to 8 inches long and are various shades of brown that is flecked with greys and browns. However, unlike the native green anoles, these lizards cannot change color. Male brown anoles have an orange dewlap with a white or yellow border. Besides the color difference, brown anoles are distinguishable by their shorter snouts.

UF/IFAS Sites

UF/IFAS Publications

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A competition for shelter and food is raging across Florida, and two related lizard species have been adapting to the presence of each other for decades. Florida's native green anoles (pronounced "uh-noles"), Anolis carolinensis, found themselves in competition with the Cuban brown anoles ( Anolis sagrei) over a century ago.

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Was The Introduction Intentional Or Accidental? Explain.

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Was The Introduction Intentional Or Accidental? Explain.

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What Is The Species Impact On The Ecosystem?

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What Is The Species Impact On The Ecosystem?

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There Impact On The Ecosystem Is The Spider Population Is Increasing And The Things That Spiders Eat Are Decreasing.

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Geographic Range

Brown anoles are found from southern Georgia and Florida to the southern tip of Mexico and the Caribbean. They are native to Cuba, the Bahamas (and surrounding islands), and throughout the Caribbean, as observed beginning in the late 1800's. About 50 to 60 years ago, they came to southern Florida and Mexico and more recently, they have appeared in and colonized Hawai'i and Jamaica. Brown anoles were most likely introduced to these areas by escapes made by pets and as stowaways on planes and ships. They have most recently spread to southeastern states such as Georgia, with one isolated population even sighted in the Houston, Texas area. Georgia brown anoles were most likely brought there by hitching rides on vehicles transporting landscaping plants and on boats (i.e. up interstate highways). ( Bursey and Goldberg, 2002; Campbell, 2000; Parmley, 2002; "UNEP-WCMC Species Database", 2003; "Herps of Texas - Lizards", 1997)

Habitat

The brown anole is a "trunk-ground" terrestrial species, concentrated in areas with open vegetation as well as moist forested areas. However, at times, it can occupy the higher niches in trees, placing the species in the "tree-crown" dweller category as well. It enjoys a semi-tropical environment with a humidity of between 40-80% and a comfortable temperature of 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit (23.8-26.6 C), with a minimum temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 C). The brown anole forms its territory among shrubs, vines, fences, and trees. ( Campbell, 2000; "Central Pets", 2003)

Physical Description

Norops sagrei is medium-sized, quite robust with a short and wide head, and is covered in small scales. It has a notably short snout compared to other ( anoles, long claws and a long tail. Its long toes and reduced toe-pad surface area help the brown anole to run and jump. Furthermore, its feet pads contain millions of microscopic fibers that allow it to attach to almost any kind of surface, whether smooth as glass or textured. The brown anole is sexually dimorphic, with the males exceeding the females in size. Mature adult males are generally 54 mm in snout-to-vent length (SVL) and weigh 6-8 grams, where mature adult females are generally 43 mm SVL and weight 3-4 grams. Male coloration varies highly, from light grey to stark-black and from a uniform color to multiple colorations (covered dorsally with irregular dark patches and a light-colored network of lines outlining the patches). Female coloration covers a wide range as well, however, they almost always have a dorsal white stripe with a dark triangular pattern that is very recognizable as a female brown anole trait. The most recognizable feature of the male brown anole is its dewlap. This is a "throat fan" that the male can extend to reveal an orange-red color display for territorial and courtship purposes. Females also have much smaller versions of the dewlap, but they do not use them. The brown anole can be distinguished from its relative species, the native green anole ( Anolis carolinensis), because the green anole has a much longer, pointed snout, its coloration is green (although it can change colors like a chameleon in response to environmental or physiological changes), and its dewlap is a recognizably lighter pink shade. Bursey and Goldberg, 2002; Campbell, 2000; "Central Pets", 2003; "Herps of Texas - Lizards", 1997)

male larger

sexes colored or patterned differently

male more colorful

ornamentation

Range mass

3 to 8 g

0.11 to 0.28 oz

Range length

35 to 68 mm

1.38 to 2.68 in

Development

Norops sagrei follows typical lizard development from an egg to a juvenile to an adult. Hatchlings are 15-18 mm long (snout to vent). and are usually seen in early June. They are independent at birth, very conspicuous and fast developers. Brown anole hatchlings will reach sexual maturity before their first breeding season, the following summer (at approximately 1 year old). ( Campbell, 2000; Greenberg, 1992)

Reproduction

Little research is available on the brown anole for its mating system, however there is research available in this area on its close relative, the green anole ( ( Anolis carolinensis). The green anole exhibits "female-defense polygyny" which is when the male patrols the outskirts of the females' territories that he will mate with in order to keep other males away. The number of females per male is usually a few females to every one male. The female moves to where the male can see her when she is ready to breed. She signals the male to approach by cocking her neck so the male can grab on with his mouth. These are brief encounters (1-2 minutes) when the male makes the final decision if he will copulate with her or not. Seventy percent of the time the male lets go of the female to search for a suitable mate. When copulation does occur, it usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. The female anole then finds the right spot in moist soil, mulch or leaf litter to dig a small hole and lay her egg (usually a single egg, sometimes two). Kaplan, 2003; Losos and Queiroz, 1997)

Most often, the adult brown anole breeds seasonally in the summer months (generally March or April until August or September). During this time, the female lays one or two eggs at a time on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for the entire breeding season. She generally lays between 15 and 18 eggs per breeding season. Such a short egg-laying period is possible due to the fact that she can alternate the use of her right and left ovaries. Females are also usually sexually active for a slightly longer period than males, because they can store sperm and continue to fertilize their own eggs after the normal breeding period ends for males. In order for the female to successfully lay her eggs, she must have moist soil or leaf-litter to lay them in and an environment high in humidity. ( Campbell, 2000; Greenberg, 1992)

Most anole research available pertaining to parental care was conducted on ( green anoles, a closely related species. After the female has deposited her egg, she covers it up and abandons the site. Further parental care is neither given nor necessary since the egg is hardy enough to survive and hatch on its own. The surface of brown anole eggs can be described as being covered with small, but recognizable, longitudinal marks. The egg(s) hatch 6-8 weeks later and the anole hatchlings are on their own. They must rely completely on instinct to catch food in order to survive. Kaplan, 2003)

Lifespan/Longevity

The brown anole can live up to of 5 years in the wild, and 8 years in captivity. Very few brown anoles live this long in the wild though, and the average lifespan in captivity is about 4 years. ( Campbell, 2000; "Central Pets", 2003; Kaplan, 2003)

Behavior

The brown anole is a diurnal, terrestrial species that is not generally aggressive except when under certain conditions during breeding season. It is communal, sharing a territory about the size of the area of a large bush. Female and male territories are separate, however, there are generally two or more female territories within one male territory. This living system may be explained by the Norops sagrei mating system, however we don't know for sure. It is clear through some studies however, that male Norops sagrei spend more time displaying their dewlaps and bobbing their heads in tandem with other brown anoles than with anoles of other species, suggesting they feel the necessity to emit a higher degree of threat to their closest potential competitors. This also suggests that species recognition by N. sagrei lizards is definitely present and protection of females by the males is part of their mating and behavior systems.

Individuals of this species sheds their skin several times a year (in flakes rather than large pieces), and is a very hardy and adaptable species. For example, there are approximately 250 different species in the genus ( Norops and closely related genus Anolis, all of which display diverse morphologies and behaviors, in relation to the specific environment they live in. There are base-of-tree specialists, arboreal specialists, tree-canopy specialists, grass specialists and trunk specialists. Respectively, trunk specialists have flatter bodies and shorter tails and canopy specialists have evolved more well-developed toe pads than the other specialists. The brown anole, being a base-of-tree specialist, often perches low on trees, fences, buildings or rocks, with its head down in a sit-and-wait posture. Most of the day is spent looking for food and basking in the sun. During the breeding season, males become extremely territorial and use their dewlap as a powerful display, to either ward off threatening males or attract potential female partners. The way the male does this, is by compressing his body, extending his colorful dewlap into a fan-like display, followed by him bobbing his head and doing "push-ups" to either attract the female or scare away the male. Females have a dewlap as well, however they do not use it. There does not appear to be a structured social hierarchy among this species, however the bigger the male and the bigger his dewlap, the more powerful he is in the social system when looking for mates and warding off males. N. sagrei has been known to fight much more among its own species than with other species, although it is not a considerably vicious animal. Campbell, 2000; Losos and Queiroz, 1997; Losos, 2001; Macedonia, et al., 1994)

Home Range

Norops sagrei typically guard the small bushes they reside in against outsiders and other species. ( Bursey and Goldberg, 2002; Campbell, 2000; Mazzotti and Sekerak, 2001; "Herps of Texas - Lizards", 1997)

Communication and Perception

The brown anole produces no audible sounds and therefore relies mostly on body language and physical appearance to communicate. The male knows that the female is ready to mate by the tilting of her head. The female knows when the male wants to mate when he displays his dewlap and bobs his head. Males communicate by their physical size, the smaller males will submit to the intimidation of the larger males and often back off, although mouth fights until death can occur between closely matched males.

These anoles perceive their environment via scent, sight, touch, and sound. ( Campbell, 2000; Kaplan, 2003)

Food Habits

Brown anoles eat a variety of foods. The most common prey are arthropods (i.e. ( amphipods, spiders, isopods and insects (including moths, crickets, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, and butterflies), also other invertebrates such as earthworms and snails. Brown anoles also feed on small vertebrates, including the hatchlings of the green anole. Campbell, 2000)

reptiles

insects

terrestrial non-insect arthropods

mollusks

terrestrial worms

Predation

Hatchlings anoles are eaten by adults of other anole species. Although there is not much information on predators of the brown anole specifically, sources did note that adults are eaten by many vertebrates, such as broadhead skinks ( Plestiodon laticeps), snakes and some birds. Spiders can sometimes capture and eat small anoles.

The coloration of Norops sagrei is such that it can easily blend in with the bark of a tree or on brown earth, rendering it nearly invisible to predators.

This is an alert and quick-moving species of lizard, that sprints from predators if it can.

If captured, brown anoles have one notable anti-predator adaptation involving their tails. The anole can voluntarily break off and drop most of its tail when being pursued. The separated tail will twitch and flail around for a short time, which often distracts the predator and allows the tailless lizard to escape. The brown anole tail is cartilagenous and will slowly regenerate into a new tail, however the new tail is usually a dull gray and is often smaller than the original tail. ( Campbell, 2000)

Ecosystem Roles

Anoles on islands may be significant predators of arthropods. Some experiments have shown that removing the lizards from islands results in increased populations of spiders, and reduced populations of other insects that are spider prey.

Since the brown anole was been introduced into southern Florida there has been a significant decline in the green anole population in rural and urban areas. The brown and green anoles are similar in size with simliar feeding habits. There is probably competition between the two related species in their habitat, as well as "intra-guild predation," meaning they eat each others' hatchlings. The full extent of the interactions between these two species, and the ecological effects of the invasion of brown anoles in southeastern North America is not known. ( Campbell, 2000)

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

This species eats pest species of arthropods, including cockroachs and spiders. It's not clear whether they eat enough of these to have a significant affect on the arthropod populations, but many people believe the do.

Humans may also benefit directly from pet trade, since the brown anole is popular among pet lizard owners. ( Campbell, 2000)

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known adverse affects of Norops sagrei on humans, although some may consider this species abundance in urban areas a nuisance.

The introduced population of this species in mainland southeastern North America seems to be affecting the native species of anole there, but there doesn't seem to be any direct affect on human welfare. ( Campbell, 2000)

Conservation Status

This abundant species is not believed to be in need of special conservation efforts. ( Campbell, 2000; "UNEP-WCMC Species Database", 2003)

The brown anole has become a model organism for the study of ecology, animal behavior, and evolution. A number of experiments have recently been performed where Norops sagrei has been introduced into an isolated area (i.e. an island) and natural selection has been observed. This research has been possible due to the fact that the brown anole species is very hardy, a good colonizer, a good adaptor, not an economic pest and it exhibits a high reproductive fitness rate. Anole lizards are found all over the islands of the Caribbean, living sympatrically, but exhibiting a vast array of different morophologies and behaviors. These types of differences have been identified among the same species on the same island, much like Darwin's finches of the Galapagos Islands and the lemurs of Madagascar. Anole lizards have adapted into every available niche. What is very unusual about Caribbean anoles, however, is that the same types of habitat specialists occur on each separate island. All of the islands contain anoles that share almost identical appearances, habitats and behaviors. The presence of similar species on different islands may be explained by an ancestral species that adapted to a specific niche and then made its way to the islands or an ancestral species that evolved at a time when the islands were still connected. Alternatively, each specialist may have arisen independently on each of the islands. Jackman, Larson and Queiroz studied this topic to discover which explanation is correct. They found that habitat specialists on one island were genetically more closely related to different specialists in the same habitat, rather that to similar specialists elsewhere. Therefore, these specialists seem to have evolved independently on each island. This evolution may also be studied through the fossil record, although the anole fossil record is scarce. Only about a dozen fossils of these lizards have been discovered, two of them dating back to the Miocene period (20 million years ago). Interestingly, these ancient specimens are almost identical to the tree-canopy habitat specialists that live today. The brown anole has allowed researchers to study evolution over a much shorter time period than it usually occurs. For example, the Schoeners introduced it to twenty islands to see if it would survive. The brown anole survived on all of the islands, except the smaller ones, and even flourished. The smaller islands could not support the new species since small islands are of lower elevations and therefore, more vulnerable to catastrophic events such as hurricanes. Because the islands had slightly different vegetation, the Schoners were able to witness evolution, as the anoles' morphology changed over generations, in direct relation to the specific environment. Lizard populations with broad perching surfaces (e.g. thick tree trunks), had longer legs than populations with narrow perching surfaces (grass and herb stems). These researchers have found that anoles are adaptable creatures that are living test cases for investigations into how evolution works. ( Losos and Queiroz, 1997; Losos, 2001; Schoener, et al., 2001)

Norops sagrei has also been classified in the genus Anolis.

Contributors

David Armitage (editor), Animal Diversity Web, George Hammond (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Matthew Wund (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Lauren Casanova (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Glossary

Nearctic

living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.

Neotropical

living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.

diurnal

active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.

tropical savanna and grassland

A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.

savanna

A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.

temperate grassland

A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.

References

Central Pets Educational Foundation. 2003. "Central Pets" (On-line ). the brown anole - Anolis sagrei. Accessed March 21, 2003 at http://www.centralpets.com/pages/critterpages/reptiles/lizards/LZD2653.shtml.

University of Texas College of Natural Sciences and Texas Memorial Museum at UT Austin. 1997. "Herps of Texas - Lizards" (On-line ). Anolis sagrei. Accessed March 19, 2003 at http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/lizards/anolis.sagrei.html.

UNEP & WCMC. 2003. "UNEP-WCMC Species Database" (On-line). Accessed March 21, 2003 at http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/isdb/Taxonomy/.

Bursey, C., S. Goldberg. 2002. Seasonal variation in the helminth community of the brown anole, Anolis sagrei (Sauria: Polychrotidae), from Oahu, Hawaii. The American Midland Naturalist, 148 (2): 409-415. Accessed March 19, 2003 at http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?Did=000000236102201&Fmt=4&Deli=1&Mtd=1&Idx=1&Sid=1&RQT=309.

Campbell, T. 2000. "The brown anole, Anolis sagrei" (On-line ). Institute for Biological Invasions Invader of the Month. Accessed March 19, 2003 at http://invasions.bio.utk.edu/invaders/sagrei.html.

Greenberg, N. 1992. "The Saurian Psyche Revisited: Lizards in Research" (On-line). Accessed August 26, 2004 at http://notes.utk.edu/bio/greenberg.nsf/0/c95b2abf95ee46ed85256a1d005affb4?OpenDocument.

Kaplan, M. 2003. "Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection" (On-line ). Anoles. Accessed March 21, 2003 at http://www.anapsid.org/anole.html.

Losos, J. 1990. Concordant evolution of locomotor behaviour, display rate and morphology in Anolis lizards. Animal Behaviour, 39(5): 879-890.

Losos, J. 2001. Evolution: A lizard's tale. Scientific American, 284(3): 64-69. Accessed April 8, 2003 at http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?Did=000000068501331&Fmt=3&Deli=1&Mtd=1&Idx=1&Sid=2&RQT=309.

Losos, J., K. Queiroz. 1997. Darwin's lizards. Natural History, 106(11): 34-36+. Accessed April 8, 2003 at http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?Did=000000024052325&Fmt=3&Deli=1&Mtd=1&Idx=1&Sid=1&RQT=309.

Losos, J., M. Leal. 1999. "Anolis Newsletter V" (On-line). Accessed August 27, 2004 at http://biosgi.wustl.edu/~lososlab/newsletter/newsletter.html.

Macedonia, J., C. Evans, J. Losos. 1994. Male Anolis lizards discriminate video-recorded conspecific and heterospecific displays. Animal Behaviour, 47(5): 1220-1223.

Mazzotti, F., C. Sekerak. 2001. "Lizards of South Florida Part 1: Native Species" (On-line ). University of Florida: Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences. Accessed March 19, 2003 at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_UW061.

Parmley, D. 2002. Northernmost record of the brown anole (anolis sagrei) in Georgia. Georgia Journal of Science, 60(4): 191-193.

Schoener, T., D. Spiller, J. Losos. 2001. Natural Restoration of the Species-Area Relation for a Lizard After a Hurricane. Science, 294(5546): 1525-1528.

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Norops sagrei (Cuban brown anole, Brown anole)

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Brown anoles are found from southern Georgia and Florida to the southern tip of Mexico and the Caribbean. They are native to Cuba, the Bahamas (and surrounding islands), and throughout the Caribbean, as observed beginning in the late 1800's.

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How Can We Prevent More Invasions From This Organism?

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How Can We Prevent More Invasions From This Organism?

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Not Selling Them In Pet Stores Can Help Prevent Them from Spreading To Prevent Invasions.

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Photographer: Mike Pingleton Affiliation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Source: Bugwood.org Copyright: (CC BY-NC 3.0 US)

Description

The brown anole, Anolis sagrei, is a small brown or gray lizard that is about 5 to 9 inches in total length. Males usually weight twice as much as females (8 grams vs. 4 grams). The coloration in males can even become black. In comparison to the green anole, Anolis sagrei has a shorter head and marking such as yellowish spots, triangles or lines running down dorsal side of the lizard. Females are lighter in coloration and have a dark diamond-back or scalloped pattern running down their backs. When males are defending territory or trying to court a mate they flash their bright red or orange dewlap. When collapsed, the brightly colored skin is hidden and appears as a pale, vertical streak along the neck. Both sexes have a dewlap, but it is smaller and rarely extended in females.

Ecological Threat

Brown anoles are native to Cuba and the Bahamas where they inhabit almost any ecosystem and encounter natural predators that help maintain the brown anole populations. In the United States Anolis sagrei is able to rapidly spread along the southeastern United States due to its diet and habitat adaptability. Brown anoles displace green anoles ( Anolis carolensis) from their habitats and compete with the native lizards for food and territory. Both anoles species have been observed to eat the other species' eggs, but despite this similar trait, brown anoles cause a significant reduction in green anole populations wherever they are present. The displacement and population reduction of green anoles will cause an imbalance in a wide variety of habitats. Anolis sagrei is known to transmit parasites to new environments in Hawaii. With the invasive brown anole living in the same habitat as green anoles they could be transmitting invasive parasites or bacteria that are fatal to the native lizard populations.

Biology

Reproduction occurs during the summer but the establishment of territory beings in the spring. Females lay one egg at a time and they can lay an egg every week. After four weeks, the egg hatches and the hatchlings are independent from the beginning. It only takes Anolis sagrei hatchlings less than one year to become mature adults and they can live up to 5 years in the wild. Brown Anoles eat insects, worms, snails and slugs; in Florida, they have been observed to eat green anole eggs, making them a direct threat to the native lizard species.

History

Anolis sagrei was first documented in the Florida Keys in the 1880s and by the 1940s it was introduced and became established in South Florida. The brown anole has been well established in Georgia for decades and specimens have been collected from Houston since 1987.Expansion of habitat range has been aided by accidental transport via motor vehicles and as accidental introductions (particularly as eggs) with transported live plants has been suggested as the likely source of these introductions.

Native Origin

Cuba, Honduras, the Bahamas and Cayman Islands.

Current Location

U.S. Present: CA, FL, GA, HI, LA and TX

U.S. Habitat: Can be found in any tropical or sub-tropical habitat within range; along forest edges, human-disturbed areas and open sites.

Management

In states where Anolis sagrei is present, no real management strategies have arisen. These lizards will expand their distribution range in the United States because many people consider them ideal as pets and can be bought in local pet stores. Preventing these pet stores from selling the invasive brown anole could help reduce its ability to spread. Since there are established populations all throughout the southeastern United States, prevention and management of the brown anoles needs to occur.

References

Campbell T.S. 1996. Northern range expansion of the brown anole Anolis sagrei in Florida and Georgia. Herp. Review 27:155-157.

Campbell T. 2002. The Brown Anole ( Anolis sagre i Dumeril and Bibron 1837). The Institute for Biological Invasions: The Invader of the Month, February 2001.

Goldberg, S. R., & Bursey, C. R. 2009. Transport of helminths to Hawaii via the brown anole, Anolis sagrei (Polychrotidae).

Greene, B. T., D. T. Yorks, J. S. Parmerlee, R. Powell, and R. W. Henderson. 2002. Discovery of Anolis sagrei in Grenada with Comments on Its Potential Impact on Native Anoles. Carribean Journal of Science 38:270-272.

King, K., Cavazos, D., & Judd, F. W. 1987. Anolis sagrei (Sauria: Iguanidae) established in southern Texas. Texas J. Sci, 39:289-290.

Tokarz, R. R., Paterson, A. V., & McMann, S. 2005. Importance of dewlap display in male mating success in free-ranging brown anoles (Anolis sagrei). Journal of Herpetology, 39(1):174-177.
Internet References http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/
http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLSpec/Anolis_sagrei.htm (Smithsonian)
http://www.btnep.org/subsites/invasive/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Photographer: Mike Pingleton Affiliation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Source: Bugwood.org Copyright: (CC BY-NC 3.0 US) The brown anole, Anolis sagrei, is a small brown or gray lizard that is about 5 to 9 inches in total length. Males usually weight twice as much as females (8 grams vs. 4 grams).