Ana S. 4292
Green Anole
Here is a great little example of a Green Anole I spotted on my back from ecology lab last Thursday, 06/04/15. I spotted him right outside Bear Hall, UNCW, near a bike rack. He had a brown colored little friend hanging out on the bike rack. Anoles are common throughout most of North Carolina and can often be found on fences, the ground, tree branches or even your back porch. They eat insects like butterflies, grasshoppers, etc. They have very few young, normally laying 1 egg at a time during spring and summer, partially burying it in soil, leaf litter or other similar material. The males usually express dominancy during mating season by expanding their dewlaps and bobbing their heads, oddly enough, this also serves for courting females. Anoles represent some of the colorful, yet harmless, reptiles in North Carolina we can all look at and enjoy. Anoles can be a variety of colors, often called "chameleons" but their color changing is more a response to temperature, stress, and environmental/behavioral factors. Lizards such as the anole are often prey to small carnivorous animals, sometimes birds, foxes, other lizards, snakes, or even your house cat. While they are territorial, you can often find several within a single area. If you see one, there are likely several others close by. These little guys offer many benefits to the ecosystem they inhabit because they help control insect poplutions and are a prey item for larger animals that may be carnivorous or omnivorous. They can gte between 5-8 inches longe and are very fast. One of their primary defenses is to flee. Most animals' instincts tell them to run when confronted with danger. Small reptiles like the Green Anole run like grease lightning when frightened. So if you have these little guys in your yard, don't mow them or scare them off! They are your garden's helpers, plus they are just fun to look at.
Green Anole
Here is a great little example of a Green Anole I spotted on my back from ecology lab last Thursday, 06/04/15. I spotted him right outside Bear Hall, UNCW, near a bike rack. He had a brown colored little friend hanging out on the bike rack. Anoles are common throughout most of North Carolina and can often be found on fences, the ground, tree branches or even your back porch. They eat insects like butterflies, grasshoppers, etc. They have very few young, normally laying 1 egg at a time during spring and summer, partially burying it in soil, leaf litter or other similar material. The males usually express dominancy during mating season by expanding their dewlaps and bobbing their heads, oddly enough, this also serves for courting females. Anoles represent some of the colorful, yet harmless, reptiles in North Carolina we can all look at and enjoy. Anoles can be a variety of colors, often called "chameleons" but their color changing is more a response to temperature, stress, and environmental/behavioral factors. Lizards such as the anole are often prey to small carnivorous animals, sometimes birds, foxes, other lizards, snakes, or even your house cat. While they are territorial, you can often find several within a single area. If you see one, there are likely several others close by. These little guys offer many benefits to the ecosystem they inhabit because they help control insect poplutions and are a prey item for larger animals that may be carnivorous or omnivorous. They can gte between 5-8 inches longe and are very fast. One of their primary defenses is to flee. Most animals' instincts tell them to run when confronted with danger. Small reptiles like the Green Anole run like grease lightning when frightened. So if you have these little guys in your yard, don't mow them or scare them off! They are your garden's helpers, plus they are just fun to look at.