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Species
Norops sagrei (Cocteau in Dumril and Bibron, 1837)
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NCBI
EOL Text
The brown anole has become a model organism for the study of ecology, animal behavior, and evolution. A number of experiments have recently been performed where Norops sagrei has been introduced into an isolated area (i.e. an island) and natural selection has been observed. This research has been possible due to the fact that the brown anole species is very hardy, a good colonizer, a good adaptor, not an economic pest and it exhibits a high reproductive fitness rate. Anole lizards are found all over the islands of the Caribbean, living sympatrically, but exhibiting a vast array of different morophologies and behaviors. These types of differences have been identified among the same species on the same island, much like Darwin's finches of the Galapagos Islands and the lemurs of Madagascar. Anole lizards have adapted into every available niche. What is very unusual about Caribbean anoles, however, is that the same types of habitat specialists occur on each separate island. All of the islands contain anoles that share almost identical appearances, habitats and behaviors. The presence of similar species on different islands may be explained by an ancestral species that adapted to a specific niche and then made its way to the islands or an ancestral species that evolved at a time when the islands were still connected. Alternatively, each specialist may have arisen independently on each of the islands. Jackman, Larson and Queiroz studied this topic to discover which explanation is correct. They found that habitat specialists on one island were genetically more closely related to different specialists in the same habitat, rather that to similar specialists elsewhere. Therefore, these specialists seem to have evolved independently on each island. This evolution may also be studied through the fossil record, although the anole fossil record is scarce. Only about a dozen fossils of these lizards have been discovered, two of them dating back to the Miocene period (20 million years ago). Interestingly, these ancient specimens are almost identical to the tree-canopy habitat specialists that live today. The brown anole has allowed researchers to study evolution over a much shorter time period than it usually occurs. For example, the Schoeners introduced it to twenty islands to see if it would survive. The brown anole survived on all of the islands, except the smaller ones, and even flourished. The smaller islands could not support the new species since small islands are of lower elevations and therefore, more vulnerable to catastrophic events such as hurricanes. Because the islands had slightly different vegetation, the Schoners were able to witness evolution, as the anoles' morphology changed over generations, in direct relation to the specific environment. Lizard populations with broad perching surfaces (e.g. thick tree trunks), had longer legs than populations with narrow perching surfaces (grass and herb stems). These researchers have found that anoles are adaptable creatures that are living test cases for investigations into how evolution works.
Norops sagrei has also been classified in the genus Anolis.
- Schoener, T., D. Spiller, J. Losos. 2001. Natural Restoration of the Species-Area Relation for a Lizard After a Hurricane. Science, 294(5546): 1525-1528.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Norops_sagrei/ |
occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
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Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Anolis+sagrei |
Anoles on islands may be significant predators of arthropods. Some experiments have shown that removing the lizards from islands results in increased populations of spiders, and reduced populations of other insects that are spider prey.
Since the brown anole was been introduced into southern Florida there has been a significant decline in the green anole population in rural and urban areas. The brown and green anoles are similar in size with simliar feeding habits. There is probably competition between the two related species in their habitat, as well as "intra-guild predation," meaning they eat each others' hatchlings. The full extent of the interactions between these two species, and the ecological effects of the invasion of brown anoles in southeastern North America is not known.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Norops_sagrei/ |
The eggs are typically laid under decaying vegetation on the ground and hatch within 60-90 days (Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Guide to Common Lizards), as opposed to an approximate 1-month incubation period for greens anole eggs. Hatchlings emerge at about 15-18 mm snout-to-vent length beginning in June (Duellman and Schwartz 1958).
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Source | http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Anolis_sagrei.htm |
Global Range: Native to Cuba and associated cayerias; Isla de la Juventud; Jamaica; Cayman Islands and satellites; Swan Islands; Bahamas, including Crooked-Acklins Bank, Rum Cay, San Salvador Island; Atlantic coast of Mexico to Belize; Islas de la Bahia. See Schwartz and Henderson (1988) and Schwartz and Henderson (1991) for details, including distribution of subspecies. Old record from "Porto Rico" certainly erroneous (Mayer and Lazell 1988). Established throughout much of Florida (e.g., see Campbell, 2003, Herpetol. Rev. 34:173-174; Townsend et al., 2002, Herpetol. Rev. 33:75); also introduced and established in Georgia (Campbell and Hammontree 1995, Herptol. Rev. 26:107; Campbell, 1996, Herpetol. Rev. 27:155-157), Houston and Corpus Christi areas of Texas (Krusling et al. 1995, Herpetol. Rev. 26:108), Louisiana (Platt and Fontenot, 1994, Herpetol. Rev. 25:33), Hawaii (Oahu, mainly residential and urban areas; McKeown 1996, Goldberg et al. 2002) and on Grand Cayman Island. Found recently in Arkansas (probably transported in nursery plants from Florida) (McAllister et al. 2003).
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Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Anolis+sagrei |
Hatchlings anoles are eaten by adults of other anole species. Although there is not much information on predators of the brown anole specifically, sources did note that adults are eaten by many vertebrates, such as broadhead skinks (Plestiodon laticeps), snakes and some birds. Spiders can sometimes capture and eat small anoles.
The coloration of Norops sagrei is such that it can easily blend in with the bark of a tree or on brown earth, rendering it nearly invisible to predators.
This is an alert and quick-moving species of lizard, that sprints from predators if it can.
If captured, brown anoles have one notable anti-predator adaptation involving their tails. The anole can voluntarily break off and drop most of its tail when being pursued. The separated tail will twitch and flail around for a short time, which often distracts the predator and allows the tailless lizard to escape. The brown anole tail is cartilagenous and will slowly regenerate into a new tail, however the new tail is usually a dull gray and is often smaller than the original tail.
Known Predators:
- broadhead skinks (Plestiodon laticeps)
- snakes (Serpentes)
- birds (Aves)
- other anoles (Norops)
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Norops_sagrei/ |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1
Continent: Middle-America Caribbean North-America
Distribution: Mexico (Yucatan, Campeche), Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Grenada USA (introduced to Florida, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Hawaii), Isla de la Juventud, Cayman Island, Isla de la Bahia, St. Vincent (introduced) sagrei: Cuba; Isla de la Juventud; Archipiélago de bs Canarreos; Jardines de la Reina; Archipiélago de Sabana-Camagtiey; Archipiélago de los Coborados; Cayos de San Felipe; western and central Jamaica; Little Cayman I. including satellites; Atlantic coast of México to Belize, including Isla Cozumel; Islas de la Bahia; introduced in Florida and Grand Cayman I.;
Type locality: Cuba; restricted by Ruibal, 1964, to La Habana, La Habana Province, Cuba. mayensis:
Type locality: Mexico: Panlao, Campeche; ordinatus (SYNTYPES BMNH 1946.8.28.93-.95): Bahama Is.: Little and Great Bahama banks; Crooked-Acklins Bank; Rum Cay, San Salvador I.; Cay Sal Bank.
Competencia
Se piensa que ésta especie es responsable por la disminución dramática en la abundancia de A. carolinensis en el área de distribución original de ésta última. Las dos especies son similares en tamaño y existe una sobreposición considerable en sus dietas, lo que sugiere competencia por recursos alimenticios (Álvarez- Romero et al., 2008).
Depredación
Depredador potencial de otros Anolis de menor tamaño (Álvarez-Romero et al., 2008).
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Rights holder/Author | CONABIO |
Source | No source database. |
This abundant species is not believed to be in need of special conservation efforts.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Norops_sagrei/ |