Anolis carolinensis anole series

[1] Female: overall bright green with white throat and underside; dorsal white bar or diamond pattern running down the length of the back; dewlap is reduced or absent North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and the Gulf Coast in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

However, it is believed that the clade originated on Cuba (Glor 2005), with repeated overwater dispersion leading to multiple speciation events.

It is believed that at least four separate speciation events would have been necessary to explain the diversity found within the Carolinensis subgroup; however, the origin of several species such as A.longiceps, A.brunneus and A.maynardii has not been fully understood.

[2] It is believed that the last common ancestor of the Carolinensis subgroup evolved approximately six million years ago; molecular dating currently supports this theory.

They have a slender build, have large subdigital toe-pads to cling to vertical surfaces, are commonly found several metres above the ground and with the exception of A. brunneus and A. allisoni, are usually predominantly green in coloration to blend in with the vegetation in the canopy.

Photo of mating green anoles ( Anolis carolinensis ) male is on top and female is on bottom. Note higher level of facial elongation and larger size in male.
Allison's anole ( A.allisoni ) on Honduras