Anolis carolinensis
green anole

Green Anoles live in the Southeastern United States from eastern Texas to southern Virginia.

These anoles require greenery, some shade and a moist environment. They can be found in trees, shrubs, and on walls or fences.

Anolis carolinensis is generally about 5 to 8 inches long. Females are usually smaller and can be under 5 inches long. Green anoles have adhesive lamellae on their foot-pads for crawling along walls. Able to change color, A. carolinensis can be anywhere from bright green to browns and greys. Their color varies depending on their mood, temperature, humidity, and their health. They are often referred to as American chameleons, although they are unrelated to chameleons. Their tails and bodies are long and slender and their heads have pointed snouts. Males are distinguishable from females because males have a pink dewlap, a flap of skin that hangs in an arc below their neck. This dewlap is used for attracting females and in territorial displays.

Green Anoles have a stereotyped set of behaviors. Male anoles perform rituals of dominance and territoriality. They show their dominance by bobbing their heads, usually through pushup-like movements. They also flare their dewlap. When threatened by another male, they start off with their bobbing and flaring. Then they extend their throat (different than dewlap), enlarge their body profile, turn lateral to their oponent, showing the side profile of body, erect crests along the back, and form an eyespot. The loser of the confrontation performs submissive head bobbing and retreats to different territory.

Green Anoles eat small insects and spiders. They stalk them in shrubs vines walls and even window screens. Prey must move to be detected.

They provide business for pet stores as they are common pets in the states that they are found.

They are fairly common as pets in the region in which they are found. Their only real threat is from domestic cats, and children that aren't careful when they find an anole. All that A. carolinensis needs is some foliage, food and a temperature of 26 to 30 degrees Celsius; humans are not currently a significant threat.

When an anole gets a disease it turns a dull color, becomes sluggish and does not eat. They can be the host of blood sucking mites. If you own a green anole, they can be removed with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol. Male green anoles, because of their territoriality, react to a mirror image of themselves and may act agressively toward it.