Anolis lineatus

The striped anole (Anolis lineatus) is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. It is native to Curaçao and Aruba of the Netherlands Antilles, but has also been introduced to Klein Curaçao.[1] It is generally common (at least on Curaçao),[2] and is particularly common in densely vegetated gardens in the capital Willemstad.[3] It is found in dry tropical shrubland at all elevations in its range,[1] but is uncommon in habitats without larger trees.[3] It can often be seen on rocks, the walls of buildings or tree trunks; at various heights but often relatively close to the ground.[4] It is a member of the A. chrysolepis species group.[4]

Striped anole
Male displaying dewlap above, individual on tree below
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Dactyloidae
Genus: Anolis
Species:
A. lineatus
Binomial name
Anolis lineatus
Daudin, 1802
Synonyms
  • Norops lineatus

In A. lineatus, males reach about 7–7.5 cm (2.8–3.0 in) in snout-to-vent length and the females about 6 cm (2.4 in).[3] It is overall light brownish with a dark-edged pale lateral stripe on each side, and typically several light bars on the body and tail.[3] It has an orange-yellow dewlap with a blackish spot; the dewlap is significantly larger in males than in females.[3] It is the only known species of anole where the dewlap is asymmetrically coloured, being deeper orange on one side and yellower on the other.[4][5] In almost three-quarter of all individuals the left side is the most yellow.[5] The colour difference between the two sides is indistinct in only a minority of the females.[4][5]

References
  1. "Anolis lineatus (Striped Anole)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  2. De Rooij, N. (1922). "Reptiles and Amphibians of Curaçao" (pdf). Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde. 22 (1): 249–253.
  3. Rand, S.; Rand, P.J. (1967). "Field notes on Anolis lineatus in Curaçao" (pdf). Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands. 24 (1): 112–117.
  4. Gartner; Gamble; Jaffe; Harrison; Losos (2013). "Left–right dewlap asymmetry and phylogeography of Anolis lineatus on Aruba and Curaçao". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 110 (2): 409–426. doi:10.1111/bij.12131.
  5. Losos; Weaver; Fies; Herrel; Fabre; Losos (2017). "The Curious Case of the Left-Sided Dewlap: Directional Asymmetry in the Curaçao Anole, Anolis linestus". Breviora. 553 (1): 1–7.
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