Blue anole
Species of lizard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The blue anole (Anolis gorgonae) is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. A. gorgonae falls into the genus Dactyloa, which are all highly arboreal, but differ in size, coloration, and perch preferences. The blue anole specifically occupies higher perches.[3] It is a small species which is "near threatened" and found only on the island of Gorgona, in the Colombian Pacific.[1][4]
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| Blue anole | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Dactyloidae |
| Genus: | Anolis |
| Species: | A. gorgonae |
| Binomial name | |
| Anolis gorgonae Barbour, 1905 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Habitat
Description
Both sexes of A. gorgonae are overall pure blue, which is very rare in lizards. The male's dewlap is pure white. At least some individuals have a series of darker mottled spots on the head and neck.[5] The blue anole is unique among all anoles because of its bright blue color and its smaller size, and it is slimmer than other Dactyloa. The blue anole is mostly found within an inhabited area on the island, where it is seen to be in open branches of the trees. It also likes to be on the trunks of trees.[3]
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Reproduction
Conservation status
Due to the isolated environment and elusive nature of A. gorgonae, which mostly lives in rainforest high off the ground, it has been difficult to accurately estimate its population.[1][4] It commonly falls prey to the introduced western basilisk lizard and may also fall prey to introduced rats, cats, and capuchin monkeys.[1][4] The largest amount of damage to its habitat occurred when a prison was built in the 1950s,[4] but since 1984 the entire island has been a protected national park.[1] It has been proposed that some individuals could be captured for a captive breeding program.[4]
See also
- List of Anolis lizards
- Lygodactylus williamsi, a similar threatened lizard