photo credit: J.D. Willson

Description: 5-8 in. (12.5-20.3 cm)   The green anole can be completely green, green and brown, or completely brown.  It may have some pattern in the form of dark slate gray streaks or spots. When brown it often displays a lighter stripe down the back. Throat fan color is pink.
Range/Habitat: This common species lives throughout most of the Coastal Plain, but can also be found in the southern Piedmont and mountainous regions.  Green anoles are diurnal.  They are commonly seen on fences, around old buildings, on shrubs and vines, on the ground, or in trees due to their adhesive toe pads.
Habits: The anole is sometimes called a "chameleon" by many people because of its ability to change colors, but the color change is associated with temperature, stress, and various other environmental and behavioral factors.  Adult males are very defensive of their territory against intruding males.  Head bobbing is used by the males both in defending their territory and courting females.
Reproduction: Females lay one egg at a time throughout spring and summer.  Usually, the females shallowly bury their eggs in soil, rotten wood, or similar material.
Prey: Anoles typically feed on small insects and other arthropods such as butterflies, flies, crickets, and small grasshoppers.

 

Throat fan of male green anole	Range of the Green Anole in the Carolinas and Virginia