Blue anole

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]

Blue anole
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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]
  • Anolis gorgonae
    Barbour, 1905
  • Dactyloa gorgonae
    — Nicholson et al., 2012

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of A. gorgonae is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 100 m (330 ft).[1]

Description
Anolis gorgonae
Anolis gorgonae

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]

Reproduction

A. gorgonae is oviparous.[2]

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

References
  1. Castañeda, M.R.; Bolívar, W.; Velasco, J. (2021). "Anolis gorgonae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T44577361A44577366. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T44577361A44577366.en. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  2. Species Anolis gorgonae at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. Phillips, John G.; Burton, Sarah E.; Womack, Margarita M.; Pulver, Evan; Nicholson, Kirsten E. (2019). "Biogeography, Systematics, and Ecomorphology of Pacific Island Anoles". Diversity 11 (9): 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/d11090141‌
  4. "World's only pure blue lizard at risk of extinction - mongabay - 7 March 2007". Mongabay.com. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  5. "Picture showing mottled head pattern". Mongabay.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2010-08-09.

Further reading
  • Barbour T (1905). "The Vertebrata of Gorgona Island, Colombia. V. Reptilia and Amphibia". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College 46 (5): 98–102. (Anolis gorgonae, new species, pp. 99–100).
  • Nicholson KE, Crother BI, Guyer C, Savage JM (2012). "It is time for a new classification of anoles (Squamata: Dactyloidae)". Zootaxa 3477: 1–108. (Dactyloa gorgonae, new combination, pp. 10, 82, 94, 98).
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