Scales & Tales with
Contributing Writer Sophie Mckee
Hello everyone, Sophie here with this month's cold-blooded creature, the knight anole. This is one of the most impressive lizards found in the Caribbean and now parts of the southern US. These bright green and yellow reptiles originally come from Cuba, where it lives high in warm, leafy forests. Like just about everything else, they've arrived here in Florida and are making themselves right at home. Our local climate and habitat provide the perfect environment for climbing, hiding, and hunting.
Anoles are a family of lizards found through much of North and South America with over 200 different species. You'll see the small brown anoles just about every time you walk outside. Those are probably the most common reptile in Florida and are also an invasive animal from the Caribbean. Knight anoles are the largest of all the anole species, growing up to 13–20 inches long, which helps them dominate the trees they live in. These lizards are skilled climbers with strong legs and sharp claws. They spend most of their time in high branches, hunting for insects, spiders, small frogs, and even other lizards. Their bright green color helps them blend in with leaves, making it easier to sneak up on prey and hide from predators. Because they are active during the day, they rely heavily on their eyesight to spot movement around them.
One of the knight anole’s most noticeable features is its pink dewlap, a flap of skin under the throat. Males use this dewlap to communicate, especially when defending territory or trying to impress a mate. When a male pushes out his dewlap, it looks like a bright warning sign to other lizards. This is something all male anoles do and you've probably seen it with our common browns.
Although they are native to Cuba, knight anoles now live in parts of Florida, especially in Miami and nearby cities. The one in the photo was right outside my mom's office in Ft. Myers. They likely arrived through the pet trade several decades ago, when they were legal to import.
Unfortunately, they don't make great pets since they're very aggressive and quick to bite. Scientists watch them closely because they may compete with native lizards for food and territory, which can change the balance of local ecosystems.
The knight anole is totally harmless to people, unless you try to catch one with your bare hands. You probably won't be able to do that anyway since they're so fast and will shoot back up to the top of the trees. They're a great looking lizard and probably here to stay.
Thanks for reading and see you next month with another cold-blooded creature.
Sophie Mckee
Oasis High School, Cape Coral
