Anolis carolinensis

Carolina anole
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Polychrotidae
Genus:	Anolis
Species:	A. carolinensis
Binomial name
Anolis carolinensis Voigt, 1832
Subspecies
Anolis carolinensis carolinensis Anolis carolinensis seminolus

The Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) is an arboreal lizard found primarily in the southeastern United States and some Caribbean islands. Common synonyms include the green anole, American anole and red-throated anole. It is sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its color-changing abilities; however, the Anole is not a true chameleon.

Distribution

Green anole eating a moth

This species is native to North America, where it is found mainly in the southeastern parts of the continent. Anoles are most abundant on the Atlantic Coastal Plains in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia, and the Gulf Coastal Plain in Texas. The species has been introduced into Hawaii.

Behavior

Anole licking

Anoles are territorial. In fact some have even been witnessed fighting their own reflection in mirrored glass. Stress in an anole can be identified by several symptoms. These symptoms include a constant shade of brown and a persistent black semicircle behind their eyes and chronic lethargy. In a group of one male and several females some aggressive chasing may occur, but the encounters are short lived and less violent than between males.

During shedding an anole may use its mouth to pull the old skin off and will usually eat it. In addition to discarding their tails, anoles will attempt to bite perceived predators if cornered, which can be somewhat painful, but does not cause much harm other than some scratching of the bite area caused by the lizard's teeth.

Anoles are curious creatures. A healthy lizard usually has a good awareness of its surroundings. The males are very territorial and will fight other males to defend its territory. Many times the other male will be a extremely invasive Cuban Brown anole.

Reproduction

Juvenile Female Anole

The typical breeding season for green anoles starts from as early as April and ends to as late as August and lasts even occasionally into September. It is during this time that the most brilliant displays of these creatures can be seen, as the males must court the females with their elaborate displays of extending their brightly colored dewlaps while bobbing up and down, almost doing a dance for her while she runs in temptation from the male. The pursuit will continue until the two successfully mate. Usually, when the female is ready to mate, she may let the male simply "catch" her and he will thus grasp a hold of a fold of her skin above her neck area, or she will bow her head before him and simply "let" him take his grasp. At this point, the male will position his tail underneath the female's near her vent and the mating ritual will take place.

Anoles mating

Male Anole with extended dewlap; used to court females.

After a 2–4 week span following mating, the female will lay her first clutch of eggs, usually ranging from 1–2 in the first clutch. She will continue to lay eggs during the season until a total of 10 or so eggs have been produced. When it comes time for her to lay her eggs, she will bury them in the soft soils or compost nearby, and after that she no longer takes any care for it. The egg(s) are left alone to incubate by the light of the sun and if successful will hatch in 30–45 or so days.

The hatchlings must fend for themselves, anoles are by nature solitary animals since birth and are not cared for by the mother or the father. The young hatchlings must be wary of other adult anoles in the area as well as larger reptiles and mammals who could eat them.

Coloration and color morphs

A male green (carolina) anole

The typical coloration for a green anole ranges from the richest and brightest of greens to the darkest of browns, with little variation in between. The color spectrum is a resultant of three layers of pigment cells or chromatophores: the xanthophores, responsible for the yellow pigmentation; cyanophores, responsible for the blue pigmentation, and melanophores, responsible for the brown and black pigmentation when the anole is cold or stressed.

There are a few exceptions which are caused when a lack in one of the pigment genes occurs. These color mutations are also called phases. The rare blue-phased green anole lacks xanthophores which results in a blue, often baby or pastel blue, anole. These specimens have become a recent popularity in the trade market. When the anole is completely lacking xanthophores it is said to be axanthic and the animal will have a completely pastel or baby-blue hue. They are extremely rare -- usually produced in 1 out of every 20,000 individual anoles in the wild. Another 'phase' is the yellow-phased green anole, which lacks cyanophores. Colonies of these rare color-phased anoles have been reported, but anoles with these color mutations rarely live for long, since the green color provides camouflage for hunting down prey as well as hiding from predators. When a green anole turns brown, it is a sign of distress. A human is a common predator. These lizards can change colors before your eyes. If they turn brown, in respect, don't continue the catch and walk away.

Genomics

This species has been chosen as a model reptile for genomics by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) genome sequencing program. It was selected because of the ease and low cost of laboratory breeding and evolutionary value of the diversity of the genus. we can use this lizards' genes' for certian feilds of medical study here are some examples;

The basics of limb regeneration have been evident for more than a century. First, the animal heals the wound at the site of the missing limb. Then, various specialized cells at the site, such as bone, skin, and blood cells blood cells, n.pl the formed elements of the blood, including red cells (erythrocytes), white cells (leukocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes).

blood cells

See erythrocyte and leukocyte. Platelets are classed separately. , lose their identity in a process called dedifferentiation dedifferentiation /de·dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion/ (de-dif?er-en?she-a´shun) anaplasia. -

de·dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion n. Regression of a specialized cell or tissue to a simpler unspecialized form. . The resulting blastemablastema /blas·te·ma/ (blas-te´mah) a group of cells giving rise to a new individual (in asexual reproduction) or to an organ or part (in either normal development or in regeneration). .a mass of unspecialized cells, proliferates rapidly to form a limb budlimb bud n. A mesenchymal outgrowth covered with ectoderm on the flank of an embryo that gives rise to either the forelimb or the hindlimb.

The cells ultimately take on specialized roles as the new limb takes shape.

It is possible for human regeneration due to certain lizard geneTake the HoxA genes. From developmental studies of many animals, scientists have shown that this cluster of genes helps pattern a growing limb. Which HoxA genes in a cell turn on ultimately determines the cell's position in the final appendageappendage /ap·pen·dage/ (ah-pen´dij) a subordinate portion of a structure, or an outgrowth, such as a tail.

epiploic appendages see under appendix.being inserted to the human genome so if we lose a limb it could grow back but slowly. We have to use just that gene so we don’t mutate into a lizard man.

if you have any questions write me at 100 bell street, Elkins W.V. 26241 john Garrett

Brown anole

The Brown Anole is a highly invasive lizard in the same genus as the Carolina anole. It is native to Cuba and several other Caribbean islands, but has been introduced to Florida and has spread through the state. It has seriously depleted the population of carolina anoles throughout its range, due to competing with them for food and habitat. Some think that these lizards spread when they laid their eggs in potted plants at nurseries, which were then shipped throughout the state.

Gallery

• 
  Female carolina anole
• 
  Carolina Anole eating dronefly
• 
  Molting Carolina Anole
• 
  Carolina Anole with dewlap extended
• 
  Male Carolina Anole
• 
  Female Carolina Anole on a Lily
• 
  Hatchling Anole on a fake flower tree
• 
  Carolina anole in brown phase
• 
  Adult carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) clearly showing the parietal eye at the top of its head.
• 
  Carolina anoles mating, Tallahassee, FL
• A Green Anole hanging on a branch, Pearland, Texas
  A Green Anole hanging on a branch, Pearland, Texas

External links

• Anole genome sequencing project at NCBI
• "Anolis carolinensis" at the Encyclopedia of Life