The same Green Anole, in both green and brown phases at Crawfish Springs. Note the tail has been dropped and the presence of pretty blue spots!  Composite photograph Panasonic Lumix FZ70 C. Paxton photo and copyright.

Sometimes they’re green, and sometimes they aren’t! The feisty little Green Anole,  Anolis Carolinensis can change its appearance to better match its background through a range of colors from green to dark brown.

Very capable climbers, Anoles have ridges of scales on their feet that enable them to grip sheer surfaces.  I’ve seen one run up a glass picture frame. C.Paxton photo and copyright.

Anoles’ eyes project slightly from their heads, like those of chameleons, this gives them better peripheral vision that is important both for evading predators and for catching their prey. I’ve seen their eyes move independently.

The following short film shows the head bobbing and throat-flap flagging activities associated with courtship.

Green Anoles signal to each other with pink and white throat flaps and during sparring matches with rivals they can bow-up fiercely, raise their crests and develop black eye patches and stripes to dominate rival males.

Green Anole in brown aspect displaying to a rival.

This metal lantern is prime real estate for lizards!

Green Anole basking on metal lantern. Sigma DP2 and +1 dioptre macro lens