The Brown Anole Lizard at Casa Ono

The Anole Lizard and the Money God  photo by SKG

    Yesterday while I was recovering form snorkeling, Sandra was out cruising in the yard with her cell phone.  She saw one of our many anole lizards gazing at the Money God and couldn't resist taking his picture.  While she watched, a moth fluttered nearby and the lizard was on it faster than a marine on a
grenade.  As she had her camera in hand, she was able to get a photo of the lizard holding the moth in its mouth.

   The brown anole lizard is native to Cuba and the Bahamas.  It has been sold as a pet throughout the United States for many years.  When released in a suitable environment it is remarkably successful, out competing, and in many cases dining upon, native species.  For example the green anole lizard of the Carolina's is now seen infrequently.

   The brown anole lizard was introduced to Oahu in 1980.  It wasn't until 2011 that it was reported from the Big Island.  I have been seeing these fast, muscular little lizards for many years, but in the last year or so their population has exploded.  Like miniature velociraptors, they leap from rock to

The anole lizard catches a moth  Photo by SKG

rock as we make their way around the yard.  

   Not unlike geckos, if one moves slowly and talks baby talk to an anole lizard, it will allow you to approach within a foot or so.  If you have a large male, and you are both complimentary and patient, he will extend his remarkable orange dewlap for your pleasure.  As Sandra had such good luck with the moth eating anole yesterday, she and I took a short walk this morning and nabbed this picture of one of our stud anoles extending his dewlap. 

   There is a lot to recommend anole lizards.  They don't seem to come in the house, so they don't require cleaning up after.  My sense is that they are far more intelligent than geckos, although both are clearly carnivores.  If I had to pick one or the other for my best friend, I would definitely pick an anole lizard.  Luckily I have

A male anole lizard extends his dewlap.  Who's a good boy?

Sandra, so that isn't likely to come up in the immediate future. 

jeff