Sharp-mouthed Lizard
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| Sharp-mouthed Lizard | ||||||||||||||||
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Secure
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| Anolis pulchellus Duméril and Bibron, 1837 |
The Sharp-mouthed Lizard (Anolis pulchellus) is a small lizard belonging to the Anolis genus of the Polychrotidae family. The species is native to Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, and the Virgin Islands (except St. Croix).
The Sharp-mouthed Lizard is the most common lizard in Puerto Rico. It measures approximately 1.3 to 1.6 inches (35 to 43 mm) in length from snout to vent. The species has a yellow-brown color with males having a purple dewlap that blends into crimson near the tip.
The Anolis lizards of the Greater Antilles have been extensively studied since they represent an interesting case of adaptive radiation. Species are more closely related to other species within the same island than to species of adjacent islands. Surprisingly, even though species divergence occurred independently on each island, the same set of ecomorphs (habitat specialists) have evolved on each island.[1] Anolis pulchellus is considered a grass-bush anole, occurring in bushes or grass but never on trees.
[edit] References
- ^ A. K. Knox, J. B. Losos, and C. J. Schneider (2001). "Adaptive radiation versus intraspecific differentiation:morphological variation in Caribbean Anolis lizards" (pdf). Journal of Evolutionary Biology 14: 904.
- Alan Mowbray (June 2006). Wildlife Facts - Sharp-mouthed Lizard. Retrieved on October 9, 2006.
