Blue anole

Blue anole
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Infraorder: Pleurodonta
Family: Polychrotidae
Genus: Anolis
Species: A. gorgonae
Binomial name
Anolis gorgonae
Barbour, 1905

The blue anole (Anolis gorgonae) is a small, highly threatened species of polychrotid lizard. It is found only on the island of Gorgona, in the Colombian Pacific.[1]

Description

Both sexes of this anole are overall pure blue, which is very rare in lizards. The male's dewlap is pure white, which nicely contrasts with the blue skin. At least some individuals have a series of darker mottled spots on the head and neck.[2]

Conservation status

Due to the isolated environment and elusive nature of A. gorgonae, it has been difficult to accurately estimate its population, but experts agree that the animal is threatened.[1] They commonly fall prey to the introduced Western basilisk lizards and are also threatened by deforestation.[1] The largest amount of damage to their habitat occurred when a prison was built on the island in the 1950s.[1] It has been proposed that some individuals could be captured for a captive breeding program.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "World's only pure blue lizard at risk of extinction - mongabay - 7 March 2007". Mongabay.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  2. ↑ "Picture showing mottled head pattern". Mongabay.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2010-08-09.

See also

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, October 27, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.