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Anolis sagrei

Dumeril and Bibron, 1837

Brown Anole

G5Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104560
Element CodeARACF01060
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyPolychrotidae
GenusAnolis
Concept Reference
Schwartz, A., and R. Thomas. 1975. A Checklist of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 216 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
This species was placed in the genus Norops by Guyer and Savage (1986) and Schwartz and Henderson (1988). Guyer and Savage (1986) divided the long-standing genus Anolis into multiple genera based on a reanalysis of some published data sets. Schwartz and Henderson (1988) adopted this classification, but Williams (1989) found serious errors and confusions in the reanalysis and vigorously rejected the multi-genus classification, as did Cannatella and de Queiroz (1989). Subsequently, Schwartz and Henderson (1991) reverted to the one-genus classification. Guyer and Savage (1992) presented further justification for their multi-genus classification.

See Burnell and Hedges (1990) for an electrophoretic analysis of relationships of West Indian Anolis.

Subspecies luteosignifer of Cayman Islands and nelsoni of the Swan Islands have been regarded as a separate species by some authors. In need of further taxonomic study (Schwartz and Henderson 1988).

Florida population is morphologically most similar to populations in Cuba, but constitutes a phenetic unit now distinguishable from all others, possibly the result of microevolutionary adjustment to the novel Florida environment (Lee, Copeia 1992:942-954).
Conservation Status
Review Date2003-11-13
Change Date1996-10-28
Edition Date2003-11-13
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent Comments
Native to Cuba and associated cayerias; Isla de la Juventud; Jamaica; Cayman Islands and satellites; Swan Islands; Bahamas, including Crooked-Acklins Bank, Rum Cay, San Salvador Island; Atlantic coast of Mexico to Belize; Islas de la Bahia. See Schwartz and Henderson (1988) and Schwartz and Henderson (1991) for details, including distribution of subspecies. Old record from "Porto Rico" certainly erroneous (Mayer and Lazell 1988). Established throughout much of Florida (e.g., see Campbell, 2003, Herpetol. Rev. 34:173-174; Townsend et al., 2002, Herpetol. Rev. 33:75); also introduced and established in Georgia (Campbell and Hammontree 1995, Herptol. Rev. 26:107; Campbell, 1996, Herpetol. Rev. 27:155-157), Houston and Corpus Christi areas of Texas (Krusling et al. 1995, Herpetol. Rev. 26:108), Louisiana (Platt and Fontenot, 1994, Herpetol. Rev. 25:33), Hawaii (Oahu, mainly residential and urban areas; McKeown 1996, Goldberg et al. 2002) and on Grand Cayman Island. Found recently in Arkansas (probably transported in nursery plants from Florida) (McAllister et al. 2003).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Various sunny habitats; rarely in deep woods or forests. Coastal areas and mountains, dry areas and in lush vegetation. In Florida generally confined to urban/suburban areas but also in semi-natural habitats along roadways and in stands of introduced trees. Trunk-ground species. Found on trees, shrubs, fences, walls, lumber and rock piles, trash piles, around buildings, and on or near ground. Presumably spends night under terrestrial objects.

Ecology

Territory size of individual or pair about 37 sq m; home range of male larger than that of female; population size fluctuates annually on some islands, relatively constant on others; density less than 0.5/sq m, highest in areas of intermediate insolation (Schwartz and Henderson 1991).

Reproduction

Oviductal eggs observed April-October in southern Florida; reproduction also minimal in winter in Caribbean, but ovigerous females present in all months (Lee et al. 1989). Lays single eggs. Eggs hatch in about a month (Behler and King 1979). Egg deposited on 14 July hatched 29 August (Schwartz and Henderson 1991).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedSavannaSuburban/orchardUrban/edificarian
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNA
ProvinceRankNative
AlabamaSNANo
FloridaSNANo
GeorgiaSNANo
TexasSNANo
HawaiiSNANo
Roadless Areas (3)
Florida (2)
AreaForestAcres
Alexander Springs CreekOcala National Forest2,954
PinhookOsceola National Forest15,405
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
References (21)
  1. Ashton, R. E., Jr., and P. S. Ashton. 1985. Handbook of reptiles and amphibians of Florida. Part two. Lizards, turtles & crocodilians. Windward Pub., Inc., Miami. 191 pp.
  2. Ashton, R. E., Jr., and P. S. Ashton. 1991. Handbook of reptiles and amphibians of Florida. Part two. Lizards, turtles & crocodilians. Revised second edition. Windward Pub., Inc., Miami. 191 pp.
  3. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  4. Burnell, K. L., and S. B. Hedges. 1990. Relationships of West Indian <i>Anolis </i>(Sauria: Iguanidae): an approach using slow-evolving protein loci. Caribbean J. Sci. 26:7-30.
  5. Cannatella, D. C., and K. de Queiroz. 1989. Phylogenetic systematics of the anoles: is a new taxonomy warranted? Syst. Zool. 38:57-69.
  6. Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1991. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 450 pp.
  7. Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 616 pp.
  8. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  9. Godley, J. S. et al. 1981. Distributional status of an introduced lizard in Florida: Anolis sagrei. SSAR Herp. Rev. 12:84-86.
  10. Goldberg, S. R., F. Kraus, and C. R. Bursey. 2002. Reproduction in an introduced population of the brown anole, <i>Anolis sagrei</i>, from O'ahu, Hawai'i. Pacific Science 56:163-168.
  11. Guyer, C., and J. M. Savage. 1986. Cladistic relationships among anoles (Sauria: Iguanidae). Systematic Zoology 35:509-531.
  12. Jackman, T. R., A. Larson, K. de Queiroz, and J. B. Losos. 1999. Phylogenetic relationships and tempo of early diversification in <i>Anolis </i>lizards. Systematic Biology 48:254-285.
  13. Krysko, K. L., J. P. Burgess, M. R. Rochford, C. R. Gillette, D. Cueva, K. M. Enge, L. A. Somma, J. L. Stabile, D. C. Smith, J. A. Wasilewski, and G. N. Kieckhefer III. 2011. Verified non-indigenous amphibians and reptiles in Florida from 1863 through 2010: outlining the invasion process and identifying invasion pathways and stages. Zootaxa 3028: 1-64.
  14. Lee, J. C., et al. 1989. Thr reproductive cycle of ANOLIS SAGREI in southern Florida. Copeia 1989:930-937.
  15. Mayer, G. C., and J. D. Lazell, Jr. 1988. Distributional records for reptiles and amphibians from the Puerto Rican Bank. Herpetol. Rev. 19:23-24.
  16. McAllister, C. T., S. E. Trauth, and C. S. Harris. 2003. Geographic distribution: <i>Anolis sagrei </i>(brown anole). Herpetological Review 34:261-262.
  17. McKeown, S. 1996. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians in the Hawaiian Islands. Diamond Head Publishing. Los Osos, California.
  18. Schwartz, A., and R. Thomas. 1975. A Checklist of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 216 pp.
  19. Schwartz, A., and R. W. Henderson. 1988. West Indian amphibians and reptiles: a check-list. Milwaukee Pub. Mus., Contrib. Biological Geology No. 74:1-264.
  20. Schwartz, A., and R. W. Henderson. 1991. Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, Florida. xvi + 720 pp.
  21. Williams, E. E. 1989b. A critique of Guyer and Savage (1986): cladistic relationships among anoles (Sauria: Iguanidae): are the data available to reclassify the anoles? Pages 433-478 in C. A. Woods, ed. Biogeography of the West Indies, Sandhill Crane Press, Gainesville, Florida.