Anolis sagrei                                                          Photo Fiona Sunquist ©

A long, slender, brown lizard, males reach 20 cm (8 in) long, females are smaller.  Males have yellowish spots on the back, a ridge down the center of its back, and an orange to pale-yellow, white-edged dewlap or throat flap.

                                                                          Photo Oliver Haligon ©

Brown anoles were introduced to Florida from Cuban and the Bahamas and are now found throughout the state. They thrive in disturbed habitats, among ornamental plants and are common around buildings.  Where brown anoles coexist with the native green anoles, you will usually see the brown anoles on the ground and the green anoles on the upper trunk and in the canopy of trees.

                                                                             Photo Fiona Sunquist ©

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