Anolis pulchellus, the Puerto Rican anole, Puerto Rican bush anole,[2] snake anole, or sharp-mouthed lizard,[3] is a small species of anole lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is among the most common lizards in Puerto Rico, and also native to Vieques, Culebra, and the Virgin Islands (except St. Croix).

Anolis pulchellus
Juvenile
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Dactyloidae
Genus: Anolis
Species:
A. pulchellus
Binomial name
Anolis pulchellus
Duméril and Bibron, 1837

The sharp-mouthed lizard measures approximately 35 to 43 mm (1.4 to 1.7 in) 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 anoles 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. Even though species divergence occurred independently on each island, the same set of ecomorphs (habitat specialists) have evolved on each island.[4] Anolis pulchellus is considered a grass-bush anole, occurring primarily in bushes or grass.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mahler, D.L., Platenberg, R. & Rodriguez, C. (2020). "Anolis pulchellus ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T75084823A75171791. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/75084823/75171791. Downloaded on 29 March 2021.
  2. ^ Anolis pulchellus, Reptile Database
  3. ^ "Sharp-mouthed lizard - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  4. ^ A. K. Knox; J. B. Losos & C. J. Schneider (2001). "Adaptive radiation versus intraspecific differentiation:morphological variation in Caribbean Anolis lizards" (PDF). Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 14 (6): 904. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.508.9314. doi:10.1046/j.1420-9101.2001.00358.x. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2006-08-24.