Anolis

Anolis is a genus of lizards in the family Dactyloidae, commonly known as anoles. The group is native to the Americas, with a high level of diversity in the Caribbean and warm regions of Florida and northern South America. The genus comprises roughly 400 described species, and many have been introduced elsewhere.

They are small to medium-sized lizards, typically 5 to 20 cm in snout-vent length, with tails often longer than the body. They have adhesive toe pads and, in many species, a bright dewlap—a flap of skin under the throat present mainly in males—that is used in territorial and courtship displays. Most species are diurnal insectivores; some will consume fruit and nectar. They reproduce oviparously, laying eggs in warm, humid environments; clutch size 1-2, with several clutches per year in optimal conditions.

Anolis are renowned for adaptive radiation on Caribbean islands, where different species have evolved to occupy distinct microhabitats, leading to ecomorph categories such as trunk-ground, trunk-crown, twig, and grass/bush. This convergence across islands has made them a model group for studying evolution, ecology, and behavior. Molecular and morphological data have redefined relationships; the genus is now placed in the family Dactyloidae, rather than Polychrotidae, with ongoing taxonomic work.

Human interactions: Several species have been introduced outside their native range, notably Anolis sagrei in Florida and other parts of the southeastern United States; introduced populations can compete with native lizards and alter ecosystems. Conservation status varies by species; many are common and widespread, but habitat loss and invasive species threaten certain endemics.