It was first described by Fernando P. Ayala-Varela and Omar Torres-Carvajal in 2010, the type locality being the Podocarpus National Park at Romerillos Alto in Zamora-Chinchipe Province, Ecuador on the southeastern slopes of the Andes.

[2] Anolis podocarpus is a medium-sized lizard with a snout-to-vent length of up to 96 mm (3.8 in) and a slender tail more than twice as long.

The dewlap has two to five (usually three or four) longitudinal rows of minute granular scales separated by bare skin.

The females are somewhat similar but have a greenish head with a blue tongue, and the basal colour of the body is blackish-brown.

Individuals were found at night within a few metres of the ground, sleeping in a head-upward position on the large leaves of ferns, arums or bananas.