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| Richard's Anole, Anolis richardii (Dumeril and Bibron, 1837). A large male in breeding coloration photographed on Grenada, Lesser Antilles. It is endemic to Grenada and the Grenadines, and has been introduced on Tobago. Males reach a body length of 140 mm, females are smaller, less than 77 mm. Adults are tree trunk dwellers while the neonates and juveniles are more terrestrial. Large adult males have highly sculptured heads and develop white markings when breeding. Females and young males have a yellow or cream lateral stripe. For more anole images and information click on the photo. |
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The "Slow Lizard" and "Many-Colored Tree Lizard" are just two of the names that have been applied to Polychrus marmoratus (Linnaeus, 1758). The lizards in these photographs are all from Trinidad's Arima Valley. P. marmoratus has an Amazonian distribution, and occurs on the continental islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Adults reach a body length of at least 137 mm, and the tail is about twice as long as the body. It uses forests and forest edge habitats, and often occurs in trees between 1.5 m and 4 m above the ground, and of course may go higher into the canopy. It feeds on a variety of large insects and berries. Females lay 7-11 eggs and reproduction may be year round in some environments. Polychrus marmoratus is a cryptic lizard, easily blending into the vegetation, moving in a slow, deliberate fashion, and maintains postures for long periods of time without moving. This behavior is similar to the true chameleons of the Old World. When handled it inflates its body and displays its dewlap. When resting on a branch that is disturbed they will drop into the leaf litter and remain curled up and motionless. |
| Polychrotids compose at least 2 genera and more than 300 species. The family is controversial as to what species it should contain and at least 9 other genera have been placed in the group. Molecular studies suggest that Anolis (and Norops) and Polychrus are monophyletic. In body form these lizards have slender bodies with long limbs and tails. They are mostly small, insectivorous, arboreal lizards, but a few are known to feed on fruits and live on the ground. They communicate with dewlaps that are moved to attract attention of nearby a individuals and these tend to be better developed in males. Many of them have color change ability and they have been called "American chameleons," and Polychrus, is in fact similar (convergent) to the Eastern Hemisphere chameleons in some of its behaviors. All lay small clutches of eggs. One species in endemic to the southeastern USA, and others have been introduced into the US. The family ranges southward into Central and South America and the West Indies |