November 12, 2010 | 
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The Shumard Red Oak (Quercus shumardii) in my back yard is beginning to show signs of Fall, as the first few green leaves gently transform into shades of yellow, orange, and red. As I stood beneath the tree, camera and tripod ready for bird action, I sensed movement in my peripheral vision. It took me a minute to spot this Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis), sitting very still and not looking green at all. In fact, I believe he/she was doing his very best to hunt for food while not becoming a bird meal at the same time.
I swung my camera around to get a better look at this young lizard, so I would not send him scurrying away by moving closer to him. I instantly noticed the white dorsal stripe accenting his backbone. Funny, I have never noticed this before, and I’ve seen anoles often enough. Is this anole different, or am I just continuing to notice new things?
Apparently this anole didn’t care for my papparazzi-like camera clicking, and he scuttled off. A very few minutes later, I spotted him clinging vertically to the trunk of the oak tree.
…And THERE’s the green! It never gets old, watching an anole’s color change…it’s like magic.
How fitting, I thought, for this magical creature to hug the equally magical and color-morphing tree. Lucky me, to have been in the presence of them both.
Posted in Amphibians & Reptiles
The white stripe makes me wonder if this is possibly an exotic Brown Anole, rather than the native Green. In any case, I’m jealous you got to witness it changing color – despite anoles being super common where I live now, I’ve yet to catch one in the act!
I wondered the same thing and referred to a field guide before posting. The range in my guide for the exotic brown was nowhere near my location, but that doesn’t mean it is not possible. Maybe some of our herper friends can weigh in on the ID.
And I agree, it is way cool to see them changing color right in front of you!
[...] that crawl upon the face of the earth? Do not even the (ubiquitous) anoles hide amoung the leaves? Does their color not change as the colour of the leaf? For thou knowest, that even the mighty leopard, in all his fearsome power, cannot change the colour [...]
[...] While some of us are already digging their way through the white stuff, balmier climes are still experiencing autumn. Amber Coakley at the Birder’s Lounge was photographing anoles, as they adapt to the colours that the season brings. [...]