Anolis vermiculatus

Vinales anole
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Suborder:Iguania
Family:Dactyloidae
Genus:Anolis
Species: A. vermiculatus
Binomial name
Anolis vermiculatus
Cocteau, 1837
Synonyms

Deiroptyx vermiculata

The Vinales anole (Anolis vermiculatus, syn. Deiroptyx vermiculata), also known as the Cuban aquatic anole or Cuban stream anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae, endemic to Cuba.[1][2]

Range and habitat

A. vermiculatus is endemic to the Pinar del Río Province in western Cuba where it is only found in the Viñales region.[1] It lives in densely vegetated and heavily shaded habitats close to water, typically streams.[2][3]

Description and behavior

This blue-eyed species is a relatively large anole with males reaching up to 12.3 cm (4.8 in) in snout-to-vent length and females up to 8.3 cm (3.3 in).[3] It is one of only two anoles that completely lacks a dewlap (both sexes), the other being the West Cuban anole.[4][5]

A. vermiculatus is fast to retreat and will dive into water to escape potential enemies,[2][3] reportedly sometimes staying submerged for almost an hour.[6] It can also run bipedally across water, similar to A. lionotus, A. poecilopus and A. oxylophus (all often in Norops instead) from Central America and Colombia, as well as the basilisks.[3][7] A. vermiculatus feeds on small animals like frogs, shrimp and fish, which often are caught in water.[2][3] It is one of two semi-aquatic anoles from the Caribbean, the other being A. eugenegrahami of Hispaniola.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Uetz, P.; & J. Hallermann (2018). Anolis vermiculatus. The Reptile Database. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Losos, J.B. (2011). Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree: Ecology and Adaptive Radiation of Anoles, pp. 76, 343. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-26984-2
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Lambert, S. (11 May 2014). Spotlight on Cuban Anoles III: Anolis vermiculatus. Anole Annals. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  4. ↑ Losos, J. (2 April 2013). Anole Beach Party In Venezuela. Anole Annals. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Harrison; Mahler; Castañeda; Glor; Herrel; Stuart; Losos (2016). "Comparative tests of the role of dewlap size in Anolis lizard speciation". Proc Biol Sci. 283 (1845): 20162199. doi:10.1098/rspb.2016.2199.
  6. ↑ Lee, A.S. (Winter 2000). Lizard Island: Cuba is a study in saurian richness. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  7. 1 2 Leal, Manuel; Knox, Alison K. & Losos, Jonathan B. (2002). "Lack of convergence in aquatic Anolis lizards". Evolution. 56 (4): 785–791. doi:10.1554/0014-3820(2002)056[0785:lociaa]2.0.co;2.
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