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Hispaniolan Green Anole - Anolis chlorocyanus

Florida's Exotic Wildlife. Species detail.

First year: 1980s

Extirpated year:

Established status: Populations are confirmed breeding and apparently self-sustaining for 10 or more consecutive years.

Estimated Florida range: 1 county At least 10 years, 2 counties Less than 10 years

Statewide trend: 1 county At least 10 years, 2 counties Less than 10 years

Threats to natives: Possible competitor of the green anole.

Species Account: This Haitian species resembles or native green anole (Anolis carolinensis) but has a blue dewlap and longer nose. Males may be up to 22 cm (8.5 in) long. This wary species typically lives in the canopy of trees but occasionally descends low on trunks to bask. Previous populations in Miami have disappeared, presumably because of the susceptibility of this species to occasional freezes. It is now restricted to 1 site in Broward County and 1 site in Dade County (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999). Butterfield et al. (1994) observed only 9 individuals during a 1991 visit to the site in Parkland, Broward County, which was less than 5 ha in size. Hispaniolan green anoles perched only on smooth-barked trees, whereas the more numerous largehead anoles (Anolis cybotes) perched everywhere around a horse stable that was formerly a reptile importer's warehouse (Butterfield et al. 1994). Recent visits to the site show that the species is now widely distributed in the neighborhood in plant nurseries and residential yards (K. M. Enge, FFWCC, Quincy, personal observation).

Habitats: Low density suburban development, areas peripheral to core urban areas, and small towns

County	First Year	Extirpated Year	Breeding status	Notes
BROWARD	1984		At least 10 years	One colony at a horse stable (formerly a reptile dealership) in Parkland, north of Holmberg Road (Butterfield et al. 1994, Bartlett and Bartlett 1999; J. Needham, personal communication); none was observed here in 2002 (K. M. Enge, FFWCC, Quincy, Florida, personal observation)
DADE	1978	?	Less than 10 years	The original colony was apparently extirpated in 1981 (Meshaka et al. 2004), but a second colony became established (Wilson and Porras 1983). There was a small colony near the Miami International Airport and may still be a small colony in North Miami (Meshaka et al. 2004), although Bartlett and Bartlett (1999) claim that all colonies in the Miami area have apparently been extirpated.
MARTIN	1986	1991	Less than 10 years	Colony on a reptile dealer's property along the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee was apparently extirpated by freezing weather (J. Watt, Port Mayaca, Florida, personal communication)

References

Bartlett, R. D., and P. P. Bartlett. 1999. A field guide to Florida reptiles and amphibians. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas. 278pp.

Butterfield, B. P., W. E. Meshaka, Jr., and R. L. Kilhefner. 1994. Two anoles new to Broward County, Florida. Herpetological Review 25:77-78.

Meshaka, W. E., Jr., B. P. Butterfield, and J. B. Hauge. 2004. The exotic amphibians and reptiles of Florida. Krieger, Melbourne, Florida. 166pp.

Wilson, L. D., and L. Porras. 1983. The ecological impact of man on the south Florida herpetofauna. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Special Publication No. 9. 89pp.

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