The Anolis Lizard

The Anolis lizard has become a delightful sight in the garden at SEEDS. As summer begins to take hold, we’re thrilled to welcome these little friends back into our outdoor space. With their quick movements and curious eyes, they bring life and charm to our garden beds.

Anolis lizards thrive in warm, humid weather and are especially fond of shrubs, trees, and dense foliage. Our lush and plentiful garden offers the perfect habitat for them, so it’s no surprise they’ve chosen to make a home here this season.

We at SEEDS are especially fond of these tiny visitors because they are purely carnivorous insect hunters. That means they pose no threat to the flowers or plants we’ve worked so hard to cultivate. In fact, they serve as our garden’s all-natural pest control, feeding on pesky mosquitoes, ants, flies, and other unwanted insects. Thanks to them, our pest population stays in check with no chemicals needed!

There are a couple of common types of Anolis lizards you might spot around the garden. Green anoles are known for their fascinating ability to shift color between bright green and brown. While this isn’t true camouflage like a chameleon’s, it’s still pretty impressive. Their color changes are usually a response to mood, stress levels, or temperature. Brown anoles, on the other hand, tend to stay in varying shades of brown and don’t change color as dramatically.

Another interesting feature of these lizards is the “dewlap” which is a flap of skin located beneath their throats. This flap can be extended and retracted using muscles and cartilage. The dewlap is often brightly colored with a color range from vivid green and blue to striking orange and serves several purposes. Males use it to mark territory and to attract potential mates. The brighter and bolder the color, the more attractive they appear. The dewlap can also serve as a warning or distraction to predators, adding yet another layer to the lizard’s fascinating behavior.

In short, Anolis lizards are not only harmless guests in our garden, but they're also helpful, fascinating, and full of personality. We’re lucky to have them as part of the ecosystem here at SEEDS, and we look forward to spotting them all summer long.