American “chameleons”, more correctly know as green anole lizards, Anolis carolinensis, has potentially become a pet in more households in North America than any other lizard.

The green anole is a member of a genus of about 300 species and subspecies, all extremely identical in body configuration and habits, usually found in tropical and subtropical NorthAmerica and South America. The Green Anole is the sole species of Anole lizard that is native to the United States, but other species have been introduced and have reputedly successfully colonized. True chameleons are reptiles of the Old World and have tiny in common with green anoles, except the power to change color. In the green anole, the change from brown to green is due to changes in pigment cells of the skin and the reaction to assorted stimuli like temperature, light and emotion. When resting the anole is usually brown throughout the day, will turn green at night, but fright and other stimuli may cause the anole to turn green at any point.

The green anole also shares another capability with another type of lizard, the gecko. Green anoles aren't strongly related to geckos, but their toes share similar traits and both species of lizards may be able to climb flat, smooth surfaces such as glass.

Another oddity of the green anole lizard is the possession of a fan on the throat, which can sometimes be extended arbitrarily. Green anole lizards are territorial. The males will stretch their pink or kind of red throat fan and bob their head to alert other males of their territory.

A six-inch full-lizard is mature and strong, and flourishes well in prison. Green anole lizards need a damp environment, the leaves of plants in the enclosure should be sprayed from time to time as the hanging drops of water which provide that anole with the liquid nourishment it needs. Captives can be maintained for lengthy periods on a diet comprised of mealworms, but a diverse diet of flies and other insects is superior.

Green anole tails are very frail and simply lost. This practice of separating from their tails common for many families of lizards. The new tail often does not resemble the original and you can see at a peek whether a green anole sports its original tail or a regenerated tail, as a regenerated tail is usually shorter and the scale pattern is different. Among the reptiles, only lizards, and not all lizards, are able to regenerate lost tails.

A colony of one or two green anoles can be kept in a large aquarium or other suitable cage. The enclosure should have abounding foliage, and the enclosure should be well lit. If feasible, full-on sunlight should be available to part of the enclosure. In such conditions, these hardy lizards follow the same activity they would follow in natural settings. Territories will be established and breeding may happen. Eggs may be laid underneath the bark or stones in a relatively wet area. Green anole babies, like most babies of other reptiles elders won't receive parental attention. Babies can be fed with little insects. The growth of green anole lizards is quite fast, and the hardy species frequently lives as long or longer in prison than it does in natural habitats.

Despite the large number sold as pets, the green anole lizard remains abundant in the southern United States, where it frequents trees, plants, vines and around older houses. A significant number can be caught at night using a torch. Green Anole lizards are among the least expensive reptile pets available to private collectors.

G. Weir is an amateur herpetologist and runs the Lizards As Pets internet site. To get more information about different types of lizards as pets visit http://lizardsaspets.org

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