Ponce anole | |
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In Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Dactyloidae |
Genus: | Anolis |
Species: | A. poncensis |
Binomial name | |
Anolis poncensis | |
Synonyms | |
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Anolis poncensis (commonly known as Ponce small-fanned anole, Ponce anole and dryland grass anole; [4] ) is a species of lizard of the family of Dactyloidae. [5] The species is endemic to Puerto Rico. [6] It was first identified in Ponce, in the hills three miles east [lower-alpha 1] of the city. [7] The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources considers it a "vulnerable species". [8]
The body of this anole is longer and more slender than other grass Anoles. It has distinguishing brownish dorsum, greenish sides, blue eyes, a small white dewlap, a short pale lateral line, and a number of black spots behind the eyes. [9] Males grow up to 44 mm and females up to 40 mm. [10]
This species is endemic to Puerto Rico. [11] Its distribution is rather small, being limited to the arid and semi-arid western half of the southern coast of the island. [12] It was identified and catalogued in 1902 by Leonhard Stejneger, a curator with the Division of Reptiles and Batrachians of the United States National Museum. [13]
Its species name, consisting of "ponce" plus the Latin suffix -nsis, was given in reference to the place of its discovery, the city of Ponce. [14] Its discovery and documentation were originally published in Stejneger, 1904: "The herpetology of Porto Rico". [15]
Dactyloidae are a family of lizards commonly known as anoles and native to warmer parts of the Americas, ranging from southeastern United States to Paraguay. Instead of treating it as a family, some authorities prefer to treat it as a subfamily, Dactyloidae, of the family Iguanidae. In the past they were included in the family Polychrotidae together with Polychrus, but the latter genus is not closely related to the true anoles.
The Puerto Rican boa is a large species of boa endemic to Puerto Rico. It is a terrestrial snake with a dark brown coloration. It grows to 1.9 m (6.2 ft) in length. It feeds on small mammals such as rodents and bats, birds and sometimes anole lizards. Like all boas, it is viviparous and kills its prey using constriction.
Anolis roosevelti, also known commonly as the Virgin Islands giant anole, Roosevelt's giant anole or the Culebra giant anole, is an extremely rare or possibly extinct species of lizard of the genus Anolis in the family Dactyloidae. The species is native to the Virgin Islands and Vieques.
The knight anole is the largest species of anole in the Dactyloidae family. Other common names include Cuban knight anole or Cuban giant anole, highlighting its native country, but it has also been introduced to Florida. In its native Cuba, this large anole is called chupacocote.
Anolis pulchellus, the Puerto Rican bush anole, snake anole, or Puerto Rican anole, is a small anole lizard of the family Dactyloidae. The species is among the most common lizards in Puerto Rico, and also native to Vieques, Culebra, and the Virgin Islands.
The bronze coqui, Richmond's coqui, coquí caoba, or coquí de Richmond is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. The specific epithet, richmondi, is dedicated to Dr. Charles W. Richmond.
Anolis cristatellus is a small species of anole, belonging to the Dactyloidae family of reptiles, which is native to Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, with introduced populations in locations around the Caribbean. The males of A. cristatellus are easily recognizable by the fin running down the top of the tail, which is known as a "caudal crest". The females also have these crests, but these are smaller than those of the males. It is often quite common in many areas on Puerto Rico, where it can be seen during the day passing the time on the lower parts of tree trunks, or on fences and the walls of buildings in urban areas, sometimes venturing down onto the ground in order to lay eggs, have a snack, or do other cursorial activities. Like many anoles, this species displays the characteristic behaviour of doing push-ups as well as inflating a pizza-like flap of coloured skin on their throat, known as a dewlap, in order to show others how hip they are, and thus attract mates or intimidate rivals. The species is known locally as the lagartijo común, and in English it is sometimes called either the crested anole, the common Puerto Rican anole, or the Puerto Rican crested anole. There are two allopatric subspecies found in different geographical areas, with slightly different coloured dewlaps and crests.
Anolis garmani, the Jamaican giant anole, also known as the Jamaican anole or Jamaica giant anole, is a species of anole, a lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Jamaica, but has been introduced to Florida.
Anolis bartschi, also known commonly as the Pinar Del Rio cliff anole, western cliff anole, and the west Cuban anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.
The Puerto Rican Twig Anole or Dwarf Anole is a species of small, arboreal anole endemic to Puerto Rico and primarily inhabiting the Cordillera Central from the Sierra de Cayey range in the Southeast to the central-western ranges of Maricao. A mostly grey to olive-brown bodied lizard, A. occultus is the smallest of the Puerto Rican Anoles with a snout to vent length of 34-42 mm. In comparison to other twig anoles, A. occultus is extremely cryptic through its unique sleeping behaviors and mottled pattern. Sleeping behavior including site selection minimizes the probability of predator encounter along with A. occultus’ extensive list of antipredator behaviors.
Anolis leachii, the Antigua Bank tree anole, Barbuda Bank tree anole, or panther anole, is a species of anole, a lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to the Caribbean.
Anolis richardii, commonly known as the Grenada tree anole or Richard's anole, is a species of anole lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in the Caribbean.
Baker's worm lizard is a worm lizard species in the family Amphisbaenidae.
Anolis smaragdinus, also known as the Bahamian green anole, is a species of anole lizard in the family Dactyloidae.
Anolis cuvieri is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Puerto Rico, and is common in the Toro Negro State Forest.
Anolis stratulus is a moderately-sized species of anole found in Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. It is a gray-colored lizard spotted with brown markings. It is arboreal, usually found positioned on tree bark on branches in the canopies of forest trees, where in some areas of Puerto Rico it can be incredibly abundant, with tens of thousands of the lizards being present per hectare.
Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas is a nature reserve in Barrio Canas, Ponce, Puerto Rico. It consists of both a land area component as well as an offshore marine area. The land component has an area of 698 cuerdas while the marine component has an expanse of 3,516 cuerdas, for a total area of 4,214 cuerdas. The Reserve consists of mangrove ecosystems, coastal sand dunes, a saline lagoon known as Laguna Las Salinas, open water, and a century-old local community. The lagoon occupies and area of 347,898 m2 Ecological protection is managed and enforced by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. Eight activities are allowed at the Reserve: scuba diving, boating, fishing, hiking, sun bathing, photography, bird watching and canoeing. Activities prohibited are: Camping, crabbing/trapping, horseback riding, water crafting, and hunting. Pets, ATVs, and fireplaces are also prohibited.
Anolis cooki, the Guanica pallid anole, Cook's pallid anole, or Cook's anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Puerto Rico, including Caja de Muertos. It was originally described a subspecies of Anolis cristatellus but raised to the species rank in 1991.
Anolis evermanni, the emerald anole, Evermann's anole, or small green anole, is a species of lizard included within the family Dactyloidae. Anolis evermanni are native to and most commonly found in Puerto Rico, mainly in wet forests. Anolis evermanni are medium-sized lizards and bright emerald-green in color. Anolis evermanni are studied for their behavior as well as the evolution of the Dactyloidae family which are known as anoles, a group of lizards. Anoles are found throughout the Americas and are related to iguanas.