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Species
Anolis porcatus Rodriguez Schettino 1999: 207
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
As members of the carolinensis group; Anolis porcatus and A. allisoni both possess long snouts, ventrals in transverse rows, keeled head scales, five scales bordering the rostral posteriorly, and green coloration (Ruibal 1964). As such, A. porcatus may be sometimes confused with A. allisoni. However, A. porcatus lacks A. allisoni’s elongate ear opening, whose a posterior margin forms a longitudinal depression. The temporal and postocular scales are also larger in A. porcatus than in A. allisoni.
Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure
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The likelihood of Anolis porcatus becoming extinct in the present day or in the near future is very low. A species endemic to Cuba, A. porcatus has been introduced to the Dominican Republic (Gifford et al. 2002), Florida (Meshaka et al. 1997), and Aruba (Odum and van Buurt, 2009). In each location, A. porcatus has successfully competed against ecologically similar species and continued to expand its distribution, in part because of its preference for human-modified habitats such as gardens, pastures, and public parks. Indeed, Powell et al. (1990) estimates that A. porcatus has expanded its range by 2.2 km2 every year since its introduction to the Dominican Republic in 1955, displacing its native ecological equivalent A. chlorocyanus. In Florida, A. porcatus appears especially poised to succeed, as its range is sympatric with four other species from Cuba -- Anolis equestris, Anolis sagrei, Eleutherodactylus planirostris, and Osteopilus septentrionalis (Meshaka et al. 1997). Familiarity with sympatric species, combined with its broad diet, increases the likelihood that A. porcatus will continue to thrive in Florida. Its demonstrated record of successful competition against native species and continued expansion renders extinction a very unlikely scenario for this species.
Comments: Perches on fences, tree limbs, shrubs, buildings, lumber piles; may occupy orchid houses in Hawaii (Oliver and Shaw 1953). Commonly in yards and gardens in Hawaii (McKeown 1978). Eggs are laid in loose soil in a protected site.
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As of May 2012, the conservation status of Anolis porcatus has yet to be assessed by the IUCN. However, multiple lines of evidence suggest that A. porcatus is a commonly occurring species that thrives in human-modified habitats (Crother 1999; Perez-Beato 1996; Powell et al. 1990; Schettino et al. 2010).
Anolis porcatus is most abundant around human settlements, such as gardens, pastures, and public parks. In fact, A. porcatus was restricted to savannas, open coastal vegetation, and similarly sparsely covered areas until the destruction of the Cuban forests, only becoming one of the predominant anoles on the island after a period of intense human activity that highly modified the environment. As such, this species remains rare in forested areas except high in the canopy and in occasional tree gaps. Interestingly, A. porcatus adapts its perching behavior to the environment, perching lower around human constructions than in forests.
Habitat preference in A. porcatus is variable depending on the developmental stage (Collette 1961). Juveniles are most commonly found on small bushes and tall grass areas of high light intensity. As such, they will most often adopt a green coloration. In contrast, adults more frequently occupy fence posts and large tree trunks, changing their coloration to grey or brown.
As a trunk-crown ecomorph, A. porcatus is a heliophilic species that spends much of its time basking in the upper reaches of tree trunks, approximately 1-6 m above ground. Despite its need to maintain a high body temperature, A. porcatus generally have difficulty withstanding temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius. In Sanchez and Alvarez (1985), the mean temperature at which thermal shock occurred for A. porcatus was 47 degrees Celsius, and the mean temperature at which panting occurred was 42 degrees. In sum, A. porcatus is likely to prefer well-lit, disturbed habitats that do not reach a temperature in excess of 45 degrees Celsius during the hottest summer months.
The Anolis porcatus population has been increasing, as evidenced by its expanding geographic distribution. Endemic to Cuba, A. porcatus has been introduced to the Dominican Republic (Gifford et al. 2002), Florida (Meshaka et al. 1997), and Aruba (Odum and van Buurt, 2009). In each location, A. porcatus has successfully competed against ecologically similar species and expanded its range (see “Distribution”).
Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
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Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Anolis+porcatus |
Species Impact: In Florida, potentially could negatively impact native ANOLIS CAROLINENSIS (Meshaka et al. 1997).
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