Mr. Chameleon of Texas
Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) in the Fort Worth Botanical Garden. He showed his pink dewlap to us but was too quick in retreating it before I could take a good picture.
The dewlap is a flap of skin found beneath the jaw or throat of Anolis lizards. It can present in a variety of colorations, and is most present in male anoles. The dewlap is extended by means of the hyoid muscles in the throat, and can be flashed in a “pulse” pattern where the flap is extended repeatedly, or a “moving flag” pattern, where the lizard flashes it continuously while bobbing up and down. The function of the dewlap in Anolis lizards has been a topic of debate for centuries. It is thought that the dewlap is flashed as a visual signal for other competing males, or as a courtship signal for single females. (Wikipedia)
The green anole is a common lizard, slender in build, with a narrow head and a long, slender tail that can be twice as long as the rest of the animal. Color can vary from gray-brown, to brown, to bright green. Each animal can change its color to blend with surroundings. Males can have a noticeable dewlap that is pink when displayed. It is commonly referred to as a "chameleon" due to its ability to change color, but not a true chameleon. (tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/anole/)
Mr. Chameleon of Texas
Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) in the Fort Worth Botanical Garden. He showed his pink dewlap to us but was too quick in retreating it before I could take a good picture.
The dewlap is a flap of skin found beneath the jaw or throat of Anolis lizards. It can present in a variety of colorations, and is most present in male anoles. The dewlap is extended by means of the hyoid muscles in the throat, and can be flashed in a “pulse” pattern where the flap is extended repeatedly, or a “moving flag” pattern, where the lizard flashes it continuously while bobbing up and down. The function of the dewlap in Anolis lizards has been a topic of debate for centuries. It is thought that the dewlap is flashed as a visual signal for other competing males, or as a courtship signal for single females. (Wikipedia)
The green anole is a common lizard, slender in build, with a narrow head and a long, slender tail that can be twice as long as the rest of the animal. Color can vary from gray-brown, to brown, to bright green. Each animal can change its color to blend with surroundings. Males can have a noticeable dewlap that is pink when displayed. It is commonly referred to as a "chameleon" due to its ability to change color, but not a true chameleon. (tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/anole/)