Anoles
| Dactyloidae | |
|---|---|
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| Carolina anole with dewlap extended | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Dactyloidae |
| Genera | |
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The Dactyloidae are a family of lizards commonly known as anoles /əˈnoʊliːz/. The NCBI places the anole in subfamily Polychrotinae of the family Iguanidae. The family is generally considered to be monotypic, containing only the genus Anolis; however, recent genetic research has identified several clades within Anolis that may sometimes be elevated to generic status. These clades are: Dactyloa, Deiroptyx, Ctenonotus, Xiphosurus, Norops, Chamaelinorops, Anolis (exclusive of the other recognized monophyletic clades) and Audantia.
The genus Polychrus was previously also placed in the family under the family name Polychrotidae; however recent genetic studies confirm that Polychrus is not closely related to Anolis and is in fact closer to Hoplocercidae. Therefore, Polychrotidae as a family has been invalidated, which classifies Polychrus under subfamily Polychrotinae and family Iguanidae.
Due to their ability to change color, anolis (anole) lizards are frequently referred to as American chameleons. Anolis lizards also share many characteristics with geckos. However anoles are not closely related to either of those groups, they are most closely related to iguanas. Anoles share many anatomical features with arboreal iguanas. These similarities include skeletal structure and nearly identical foot structure.
Anoles are small and common lizards that can be found throughout the southeastern United States and at least as far west as San Antonio and Texas Hill Country, the Caribbean, Mexico, and various other warm regions of the Western world. A large majority of them sport a green coloration, including the only species native to the United States, the aptly named green anole. The green anole (and many other anoles) can change its color based on stress level, sun/light exposure and its surrounding. Often anoles are only able to change one color. Anoles are a very diverse and plentiful group of lizards, and about 372 species are known. The knight, green, bark, Jamaican giant, and Cuban brown anoles can all be found in the United States, primarily in Florida. The most prevalent of these species by far is the Cuban brown anole, which has pushed the native green (or "Carolina") anole population farther north.
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Wikipedia