Knight anole
Knight anole | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Dactyloidae |
Genus: | Anolis |
Species: | A. equestris
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Binomial name | |
Anolis equestris Merrem, 1820
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Synonyms | |
Deiroptyx equestris |
The knight anole (Anolis equestris) is the largest species of
Taxonomy
The knight anole is part of a group of overall similar (in both appearance and behavior, all are crown-giant ecomorphs) anoles from Cuba known as the equestris species complex, including A. baracoae, A. luteogularis, A. noblei, A. pigmaequestris and A. smallwoodi.[4]
These and a few other anole species from Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico are sometimes placed in their own genus, Deiroptyx.[4]
Geographic range and habitat
Knight anoles are native to Cuba, but have been widely introduced into South Florida, where they reproduce and spread readily as an invasive species.[2][5] They cannot withstand cold temperatures; in winter freezes in Florida, they have been known to fall to the ground from tree canopies, similarly to the green iguana.[5] In highland parts of its native Cuba, a few individuals may rest adjacent to each other during the relatively cold winters (otherwise the species is solitary and highly territorial).[6]
In Cuba they can be seen from near sea level to an altitude of 3,300 ft (1,000 m) in a wide range of habitats with trees, such as forest,
Appearance
Adult knight anoles are about 13–20 in (33–51 cm) in total length, including their tail that is longer than the head-and-body,[2] and weigh 0.56–4.83 oz (16–137 g).[5][7] Males grow larger than females, with adults of the former having a snout–vent length of 3.9–7.5 in (10–19 cm) and the latter 3.5–6.3 in (9–16 cm).[5] It is mostly bright green with a yellow stripe on the side of the head and another on the shoulder, but it is able to perform some color changes.[2][5] It has a pinkish-white dewlap. Juveniles have light bands on the body.[5]
Behavior
Knight anoles are
Diet
When young, its diet consists mainly of insects. As an adult, it mostly eats invertebrates (notably insects and snails), but regularly take fruits and can function as a
Captivity
In captivity, the anole's aggressiveness seems to lessen to a certain degree; if it is raised from the time of its birth and handled, it is common for it to become tame enough to be held. In communal terraria with other species of lizards, it rarely attacks smaller lizards, unless the other reptile intrudes on its territory. It may be hand-fed with caution, since it has a strong bite and many small, sharp teeth.
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0764137754.
- ^ ISBN 978-0395904527.
- ^ "Guía Elemental - Santiago de Cuba Anfibios y Reptiles de la Reserva de la Biosfera BACONAO" (PDF). Fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ .
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Camposano; Krysko; Enge; Donlan; Granatosky (2008). "The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in Florida". Iguana. 15 (4): 212–219.
- .
- ^ a b Kirsten E. Nicholson and Paul M. Richards (2011). Home-range size and overlap within an introduced population of the Cuban knight anole, Anolis equestris (Squamata: Iguanidae) Phyllomedusa, 10 (1), 65-73
- ^ JSTOR 1563699.
- ^ .