Anolis roosevelti

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Culebra Island giant anole
Anolis roosevelti.jpg
Status iucn3.1 CR.svg
Critically endangered, possibly extinct  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Dactyloidae
Genus: Anolis
Species:
A. roosevelti
Binomial name
Anolis roosevelti
Grant, 1931
Synonyms [2]
  • Xiphosurus roosevelti
    Nicholson et al., 2012

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.

Contents

Taxonomy and etymology

The Culebra Island giant anole was first described in 1931 by American zoologist Chapman Grant, grandson of U.S. President Grant. It is named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt Jr., who was the governor of Puerto Rico at that time. [3] It was initially described as Anolis roosevelti, but some have suggested it should be transferred into the genus Xiphosurus in 2012. [4] This new classification system is controversial and many have preferred to maintain all anoles in genus Anolis. [5]

Geographic range

Anolis roosevelti is endemic to Culebra Island in Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. [2]

Habitat

A. roosevelti lives in forested zones [1] on the slopes of Mt. Resaca.[ citation needed ]

Description

A. roosevelti can reach a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 160 mm (6.3 in). The color of the body is brown-grey, while the tail has a yellow-brown hue and the abdomen is whitish. The throat fan varies from gray on the upperparts to yellow on the underparts, and the eyelids are yellow. A further feature are two long drawn-out lines on both sides of the body; one starts at the ear, the other at the shoulder.[ citation needed ]

Reproduction

A. roosevelti is oviparous. [2]

Threats

Though A. roosevelti was only observed again in 1932 after its discovery, there have been unconfirmed sightings since 1973 (the last one in 1978). Some experts believe that it might still exist. It preferred a habitat with gumbo-limbo and ficus trees because it fed from the fruits of the trees. Due to human activities the habitat was almost destroyed; only a few specimens of the Culebra Giant Anole can be seen in museums. It was listed as federally endangered in the Endangered Species Act in 1977.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knight anole</span> Species of lizard

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<i>Anolis pulchellus</i> Species of reptile

Anolis pulchellus, the Puerto Rican anole, Puerto Rican bush anole, snake anole, or sharp-mouthed lizard, is a small species of anole lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is among the most common lizards in Puerto Rico, and also native to Vieques, Culebra, and the Virgin Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Round Rock, British Virgin Islands</span>

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<i>Anolis cristatellus</i> Species of reptile

Anolis cristatellus is a small species of anole, belonging to the Dactyloidae family of reptiles. The species 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 this crest, but it is smaller than that of the males. The species 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 its throat, known as a dewlap, in order to show others how dominant it is, and thus attract mates or intimidate rivals.

<i>Anolis garmani</i> Species of lizard

Anolis garmani, also known commonly as the Jamaican giant anole, the Jamaican anole, and the Jamaica giant anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Jamaica, but has been introduced to Florida.

<i>Anolis occultus</i> Species of reptile

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.

<i>Anolis richardii</i> Species of lizard

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.

<i>Anolis cuvieri</i> Species of reptile

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.

<i>Anolis</i> ecomorphs Grouping of species of lizard

The ecomorph concept is a term first coined by Ernest Edward Williams in 1972 which he defined as a “species with the same structural habitat/niche, similar in morphology and behavior, but not necessarily close phyletically.” Williams first applied this definition to the Greater Antillean anoles upon observing their evolutionary radiation, although it has since been used widely elsewhere.

<i>Anolis stratulus</i> Species of reptile

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.

<i>Anolis poncensis</i> Species of reptile

Anolis poncensis is a species of lizard of the family of Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Puerto Rico. It was first identified in Ponce, in the hills three miles east of the city. The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources considers it a "vulnerable species".

<i>Sphaerodactylus roosevelti</i> Species of reptile

Sphaerodactylus roosevelti, also known commonly as Roosevelt's beige sphaero or Roosevelt's least gecko, is a small species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Puerto Rico.

<i>Anolis cooki</i> Species of lizard

Anolis cooki, also known commonly as Cook's anole, Cook's pallid anole, and the Guanica pallid anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Puerto Rico.

Anolis ernestwilliamsi, also known commonly as the Carrot Rock anole, Carrot Rock's anole, and Ernest's anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to the British Virgin Islands.

<i>Anolis evermanni</i> Species of lizard

Anolis evermanni, also known commonly as the emerald anole, Evermann's anole, and the small green anole, is a species of lizard included within the family Dactyloidae. A. evermanni is native to Puerto Rico, where it is mainly found in wet forests. A. evermanni is a medium-sized lizard and bright emerald-green in color. A. evermanni is studied for its behavior as well as the evolution of the family Dactyloidae. The group of lizards which are member species of the family Dactyloidae are known as anoles. Anoles are found throughout the Americas and are related to iguanas.

Anolis fairchildi, also known commonly as the Cay Sal anole and Fairchild's anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is native to the Bahamas.

Anolis fowleri, also known commonly as Fowler's anole and the green-banded anole, is a rare species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to the Dominican Republic.

<i>Anolis ibanezi</i> Species of lizard

Anolis ibanezi is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is native to Central America.

References

  1. 1 2 Platenberg, R.; de Queiroz, K.; Mahler, D.L. (2020). "Anolis roosevelti ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T1319A18967413. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T1319A18967413.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Species Anolis roosevelti at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Anolis roosevelti, p. 226).
  4. Nicholson KE, Crother BI, Guyer C, Savage JM (2012). "It is time for a new classification of anoles (Squamata: Dactyloidae)". Zootaxa3477: 1–108.
  5. Poe S (2013). "1986 Redux: New genera of anoles (Squamata: Dactyloidae) are unwarranted". Zootaxa3626 (2): 295-299.

Further reading