Brown Anole Vs. Green Anole

Both varieties of anole are similar in overall body plan: they are somewhat stocky lizards with blocky heads, and long, lean legs and tails. Both have a dewlap under the chin, used in elaborate territorial displays, though it is usually pink in green anoles and dark red in brown anoles. Green anoles are generally patternless, while brown anoles frequently display dorsal stripes, spots or bars. Both lizard species possess color-changing capabilities, though brown anoles are always some shade of brown -- green anoles can display either brown or green colors. Brown anoles frequently have a dorsal crest, particularly in males.

Green anoles are the only species that is native to the United States, and can be found from Florida as far north as Tennessee and the Carolinas. By contrast, brown anoles are native to the Caribbean, with one subpecies being found in the Bahamas (Anolis sagrei ordinatus) and another in Cuba (Anolis sagrei sagrei). Representatives of both subspecies have been introduced to Florida and south Georgia, where they interbreed freely. Currently, the two subspecies of brown anole have integrated so thoroughly in south Florida that it's impossible to distinguish which island they originated from. Green and brown anoles interact where their ranges overlap; they're known to execute territorial displays aimed at the other species.

Some anole species are adapted to living in the crowns of trees, whereas others are adapted to living on the trunks; both have behaviors and physiology to reflect this. This combination of micro-habitat and body design is termed an ecomorph. The green anole is a member of the crown-trunk ecomorph, members of which are characterized by green body color, no enlarged dorsal scales and a tendency to climb up when in danger. The brown anole, by contrast, is a member of the trunk-ground ecomorph, whose members are usually brown, have enlarged dorsal scales and tend to flee toward the ground when threatened.

Though equipped with slightly different survival strategies, life histories and ecomorphs, both species of lizard share roughly similar ecology. Females of both species lay eggs singly throughout the summer. Anoles of all species are important predators of insects and arachnids. Birds and snakes are the most significant predators of anoles, though small anoles must be careful; both species are documented to eat the other.