Crested Anole: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Lizards · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. Males carry a tall fin along the top of their tail that always stands up. Bony spikes from the tail bones hold it in place.
2. To show who is boss, a male does push-ups and flares a throat flap called a dewlap, mustard yellow with an orange-red edge.
3. When it sheds its skin as it grows, the anole eats the old skin, maybe to keep the nutrients.
4. It can drop its tail to escape, but the regrown tail is a cartilage rod that cannot break off. Next time, it must lose more of the original.
5. It can change from tan to dark brown depending on its mood. Unlike true chameleons, it is not doing it for camouflage.

The quiz

1. What holds up the crest on a male crested anole's tail?

• Air pockets
• Stiff hairs
• Bony extensions of its tail bones (correct)
• Nothing: it is only raised when angry

The always-raised crest is supported by bony extensions of the vertebrae.

2. What is a dewlap?

• A flap of coloured skin on the throat (correct)
• A spike on the head
• A pouch for storing food
• A type of nest

It is a flap of coloured throat skin used to show dominance.

3. What does the crested anole do with its old skin?

• Uses it to line a nest
• Leaves it to scare predators
• Buries it
• Eats it (correct)

It eats its shed skin, perhaps to keep the nutrients.

4. What is a regrown crested anole tail made of inside?

• The same bones as before
• A rod of cartilage (correct)
• Pure fat
• Hollow tubes

The new tail has no vertebrae, only a rod of cartilage.

5. Why does a crested anole change colour?

• To match the leaves
• Because of its mood (correct)
• To warn of rain
• Only when it sleeps

Its colour changes with its emotions, not for camouflage.

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