Anolis cristatellus

Crested anole
A. c. cristatellus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Polychrotidae
Genus: Anolis
Species: A. cristatellus
Binomial name
Anolis cristatellus
Duméril and Bibron, 1837
Synonyms
  • Ptychonotus (Istiocercus) cristatellus FITZINGER 1843: 65
  • Xiphosurus cristatellus O’SHAUGHNESSY 1875: 271
  • Anolis lindeni RUTHVEN 1912: 163
  • Anolis cozumelae SMITH 1939
  • Ctenonotus cristatellus - GUYER & SAVAGE 1986

The crested anole (Anolis cristatellus) is a species of anole belonging to the Polychrotidae family of reptiles.

Subspecies

Geographic range

This lizard is found throughout Puerto Rico, the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, and in Costa Rica and has been introduced into eastern Hispaniola, Dominica, and Florida. Subspecies, Anolis cristatellus wileyae, is found on islands off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, such as Culebra and Vieques, and also on the U.S. Virgin Islands.[1]

Habitat

These lizards typically spend their time perched on tree trunks, coming to the ground to forage.

Behavior

When looking for a mate or defending its territory, this anole will display its dewlap and perform "push-ups" to establish dominance. Males aggressively defend territories when mating, but only rarely does this result in physical combat. As a defense against predators, they autotomize their tails.

Diet

They mainly eat spiders and small invertebrates, but will occasionally eat fruit on the ground. They will sometimes even eat other anoles, due to territorial reasons, or if food is scarce.

References

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