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.
Polychrus is the only extant genus of polychrotid lizards in the world. Commonly called bush anoles, they are found in Central and South America, as well as nearby Trinidad and Tobago.
Polychrus gutturosus, also known as Berthold's bush anole or monkey tailed anole, is a species of lizard found in tropical Central and South America. It is sometimes referred to as a "forest iguana". It lives in forests and jungles from Honduras to Ecuador. It can reach up to 70 cm (2.3 ft) in total length, including its very long tail, and males are considerably smaller than females. This insectivorous lizard is a climbing species that can often be seen holding onto branches. It can even hold on with its hind legs, though it moves slowly that way.
The northern caiman lizard is a species of lizard found in northern South America.
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 planiceps, commonly known as the golden-scaled anole, orange-fanned leaf-litter anole, or goldenscale anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil, and Trinidad.
Anolis fuscoauratus, commonly known as the slender anole, slender Amazon anole, or brown-eared anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is native to northern South America and Panama.
The Polychrotidae family of iguanian lizards contains the living genus Polychrus and the extinct genus Afairiguana. The family Polychrotidae was once thought to encompass all anoles, including those in the genus Anolis. Studies of the evolutionary relationships of anoles based on molecular information has shown that Polychrus is not closely related to Anolis, but instead closer to Hoplocercidae. It is therefore not part of Dactyloidae and instead is treated as the family, Polychrotidae.
Polychrus acutirostris, the Brazilian bush anole, is a species of lizard native to southern and eastern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and eastern Bolivia. It is diurnal.
Polychrus peruvianus, the Peruvian bush anole, is a species of bush anole native to Peru and Ecuador. It was initially placed in the genus, Polychroides, before being corrected in 1965.
Polychrus liogaster or Boulenger's bush anole is a species of bush anole native to Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador. The species is found in elevations of around 750 meters.
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.
Anolis bombiceps, the surprise anole or blue-lipped forest anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador.
Anolis brasiliensis, the Brazilian anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Brazil.
Anolis phyllorhinus, the leaf-nosed anole or bat anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Brazil.
Anolis punctatus, the spotted anole or Amazon green anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia.
Anolis tandai, Tanda's anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Brazil and Peru.
Anolis trachyderma, the roughskin anole or common forest anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador.
Anolis transversalis, the banded tree anole or transverse anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and Bolivia.
