Anolis luciae

Anolis luciae, also known commonly as the St. Lucia anole or the Saint Lucian anole, is a species of anole lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Saint Lucia, an island-nation in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles.

St. Lucia anole
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Dactyloidae
Genus:	Anolis
Species:	A. luciae
Binomial name
Anolis luciae Garman, 1887
Synonyms[2]
Anolis luciae Garman, 1887 Anolis bimaculatus luciae — Underwood in E. Williams et al., 1959 Anolis trinitatis procuratoris Underwood, 1959 Anolis luciae — Schwartz & Henderson, 1991 Dactyloa luciae — Nicholson et al., 2012

Etymology

The specific name, luciae, refers to the island of Saint Lucia.^[3]

Geographic range

Anolis luciae is widespread on Saint Lucia and its offshore islets.^[4]

Description

The coloration and markings of Anolis luciae vary. Its dorsal ground colour ranges from brown in drier habitats to bright green in wetter areas. Some populations have blue coloration on the sides, and the ventral surface may be white or yellowish. The area around the eye may be white, blue, or green. Males may be patternless or have reticulations or chevron patterns on the dorsal surface. Females are duller than males, and may have a mid-dorsal stripe or dark chevron markings.^[4]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Anolis luciae is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 700 m (2,300 ft), but it is also found in agricultural areas.^[1]

Diet

Anolis luciae eats fruits and yams.^[1]

Reproduction

Anolis luciae is oviparous.^[1][2]

Invasive species

Anolis luciae co-exists on Saint Lucia with two introduced anole species: A. extremus and A. wattsi. A. luciae appears to be resisting competition, and the two invasive species are restricted to areas around the capital, Castries.^[4]

See also

• List of Anolis lizards