Blue anole

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Blue anole
Anolis gorgonae MatthewGable (cropped 2).JPG
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. gorgonae
Binomial name
Anolis gorgonae
Barbour, 1905
Synonyms [2]
  • Anolis gorgonae
    Barbour, 1905
  • Dactyloa gorgonae
    Nicholson et al., 2012

The blue anole (Anolis gorgonae) is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. A. gorgonae falls into the genus Dactyloa, which are all highly arboreal, but differ in size, coloration, and perch preferences. The blue anole specifically occupies higher perches. [3] It is a small species which is "near threatened" and found only on the island of Gorgona, in the Colombian Pacific. [1] [4]

Contents

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of A. gorgonae is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 100 m (330 ft). [1]

Description

Both sexes of A. gorgonae are overall pure blue, which is very rare in lizards. The male's dewlap is pure white. At least some individuals have a series of darker mottled spots on the head and neck. [5] The blue anole is unique among all anoles because of its bright blue color and its smaller size, and it is slimmer than other Dactyloa. The blue anole is mostly found within an inhabited area on the island, where it is seen to be in open branches of the trees. It also likes to be on the trunks of trees. [3]

Anolis gorgonae Anolis gorgonae (cropped).JPG
Anolis gorgonae

Reproduction

A. gorgonae is oviparous. [2]

Conservation status

Due to the isolated environment and elusive nature of A. gorgonae, which mostly lives in rainforest high off the ground, it has been difficult to accurately estimate its population. [1] [4] It commonly falls prey to the introduced western basilisk lizard and may also fall prey to introduced rats, cats, and capuchin monkeys. [1] [4] The largest amount of damage to its habitat occurred when a prison was built in the 1950s, [4] but since 1984 the entire island has been a protected national park. [1] It has been proposed that some individuals could be captured for a captive breeding program. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dactyloidae</span> Family of reptiles

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, Dactyloinae, 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.

<i>Anolis</i> Genus of lizards

Anolis is a genus of anoles, iguanian lizards in the family Dactyloidae, native to the Americas. With more than 425 species, it represents the world's most species-rich amniote tetrapod genus, although many of these have been proposed to be moved to other genera, in which case only about 45 Anolis species remain. Previously, it was classified under the family Polychrotidae that contained all the anoles, as well as Polychrus, but recent studies place it in the Dactyloidae.

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

The brown anole, also known commonly as the Cuban brown anole, or De la Sagra's anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is native to Cuba and the Bahamas. It has been widely introduced elsewhere, via the importation and exportation of plants where the anole would lay eggs in the soil of the pots, and is now found in Florida and other regions of the United States including southern Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Southern California. It has also been introduced to other Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Taiwan.

<i>Anolis roosevelti</i> Rare or extinct species of reptile

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western basilisk</span> Species of lizard

The western basilisk, or red-headed basilisk, is a large species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to northwestern South America.

<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.

Anolis agassizi, Agassiz's anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Malpelo Island, which is part of Colombia.

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

Anolis grahami, commonly known as the Jamaican turquoise anole and Graham's anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is native to the island of Jamaica, and has also been introduced to the territory of Bermuda. It is one of many different species of anole lizards found in Jamaica. There are two recognized subspecies.

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

Anolis vermiculatus, the Vinales anole or Cuban stream anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae, endemic to Cuba.

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

Anolis auratus, the grass anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, and Brazil.

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

Anolis boettgeri, also known commonly as Boettger's anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Peru.

Anolis danieli is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Colombia.

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.

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

Anolis fraseri, also known commonly as Fraser's anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is native to northwestern South America.

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

Anolis gundlachi, also commonly known as the yellow-chinned anole, Gundlach's anole, and the yellow-beard anole, is an oviparous, sexually dimorphic species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Puerto Rico and lives in mountainous forests at high elevations. The diet of A. gundlachi consists mostly of insects. This species is also known for signaling other lizards through a modulated head bob display, with varying bobbing amplitudes and patterns based on an individual's distance from other lizards.

Anolis pinchoti, also known commonly as the Crab Cay anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Colombia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Castañeda, M.R.; Bolívar, W.; Velasco, J. (2021). "Anolis gorgonae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T44577361A44577366. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T44577361A44577366.en . Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 Species Anolis gorgonae at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 1 2 Phillips, John G.; Burton, Sarah E.; Womack, Margarita M.; Pulver, Evan; Nicholson, Kirsten E. (2019). "Biogeography, Systematics, and Ecomorphology of Pacific Island Anoles". Diversity11 (9): 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/d11090141‌
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "World's only pure blue lizard at risk of extinction - mongabay - 7 March 2007". Mongabay.com. 7 March 2007. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  5. "Picture showing mottled head pattern". Mongabay.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2010-08-09.

Further reading