South Texas Backyard Wildlife – Brown Anole & Friends

On a recent trip to my parents house in Mission, Texas, I decided to hang out in the lush backyard with my camera. I was attempting to nab a picture of a beautiful woodpecker when a group of lizards and one hummingbird decided to crash the party. I was not familiar with brown anoles and found them interesting enough to take several photos. Sometimes a backyard like this can be an awesome “Lodge” location. Enjoy the random photos, video and information on the brown anole.. gmt

Brown Anole (exotic)

Anolis sagrei sagrei

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Description: maximum length to 8.5 inches; gray, black, brown to very dark brown and sometimes speckled coloration which may vary in hue; males turn almost black during territorial displays; females have diamond-shaped patterns down back (second photo at left); males may display patterns, but never diamond shapes; dewlaps are red to red-orange with a yellow border (photo left top); mature males will also have crest-like ridge along back;

Food: mostly insects but occasionally Green Anole hatchlings when they come to the ground

Habitat: ground dweller but will venture up several feet into trees and shrubs; prefers drier areas

Range: most of peninsular Florida and the Keys; not cold tolerant

Lifespan: around 3 years

Breeding: mates late spring to early summer; 2 eggs per clutch and several clutches each summer; eggs laid under decaying vegetation on ground; 60-90 days to hatch; an exotic that has probably spread when eggs distributed in tropical landscape plants originating in nurseries around Miami and the Keys

Untitled from George Townsend on Vimeo.

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