The lush green foliage of Wakulla County hides many secrets. Lurking in the murky recesses of nature’s dim places are a collection of tiny creatures with a variety of competing interests.
Some organisms are there only to control the unrestrained growth of the plants and fungi which utilize the available resources. Others, with carnivorous intent, are there to prey upon those feeding on the available vegetative matter.
Camouflage among the leaves and stems is a critical defense for each member of this nether world. Without a means of immediate escape or the ability to inflict severe pain, florid coloration spells a very short life.
For the predators, the ability to disappear ensures their meals obliviously come into range where they are easily taken. One local species which uses this technique in natural areas as well as suburbia is the green (sometime known as the Carolina) anole.
Hiding in plain sight, an anole waits among the blooms for an unsuspecting pollinator.
Anolis carolinensis, as it is scientifically known, is the only member of this genus native to the U.S. They are limited to the southeast of the country, likely limited by their inability to handle colder temperatures.
Other countries with subtropical climates tend to have a greater variety of species, some which have been introduced in to the state. Central and South America along with the islands in between have one or more species of this lizard.
This denizen of the forested areas adapts well to home landscapes with leafy shrubs and ample ground cover. These complements to the home’s appearance offer the anoles several benefits.
The first is cover as protection from predation by birds and other animals. While anoles have teeth which they use to great effect on prey, they are hardly a good defense against much larger animals.
Curiously, their best option for surviving an attack is their tail. If seized by the lagging appendage, this lizard can volunterally detach it from the remainder of the body.
Once it reaches safety, the regrowth process begins. Aside from the likely psychic trauma, the long-term effects are minimal
Additionally, the anoles have the ability to change color shading from a bright green to a muted brown. This ability to blend with the natural background is a tremendous advantage when employing stealth for hunting or surviving.
The second attraction of home landscapes is they offer an excellent hunting ground for the insects and other small creatures which make up the anole’s diet. It seems the plants people like are always favored by a variety of ever hungry bugs which ruin the cosmetic appeal of the foliage and blooms.
The anoles, in effect, move in and offer a no-cost pest control service. The territorial males quickly establish their domains and will aggressively defend the arbitrarily defined areas.
Fortunately, the mature adults are usually four to eight inches in length, most of which is the tail. The small size and easy availability near residences sometime make this lizard a potential toy for the inquisitive youngster.
Males and females can be identified by some obvious characteristics. The males have a much larger dewlap under their chins, and the females have a distinctive line down their spine.
To observe this reptile be prepared to spend some time in a comfortable, but still position. Once convinced they are safe, the animated lizard activity will begin.
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