Knight anole

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Knight anole
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Knight anole ( Deiroptyx equestris )

Systematics
Order : Scale reptiles (Squamata)
without rank: Toxicofera
without rank: Iguana (Iguania)
Family : Dactyloidae
Genre : Deiroptyx
Type : Knight anole
Scientific name
Deiroptyx equestris
( Merrem , 1820)

The knight anole ( Deiroptyx equestris , syn .: Anolis equestris ) is one of the better-known lizard species from the genus Deiroptyx within the family of Dactyloidae .

description

Knight anole, the largest species of the Dactyloidae family, can reach a total length of up to half a meter. The head-trunk length is up to 18.8 cm in males and up to 17 cm in females. They are light green and can turn brown. Young females have white transverse ligaments in their first months of life, young males are solid green. Of the medium-sized dorsal horn scales , 9–19 are vertically side by side. The animals have adhesive feet. Its tail is flattened on the sides. Males differ from females by their colorful head. Both sexes have a pink throat flag.

distribution

The original distribution area of ​​the knight anole is in Cuba , but it has now also been introduced to southern Florida and Hawaii .

Way of life

Knight anoles belong to the tree-living anoles and are good climbers. The animals inhabit coastal landscapes as well as savanna-like areas, avenues and plantations. Knight anoles inhabit upper areas of deciduous trees, thick bushes or palm trees. They are aggressive and territorial , and territorial fights often take place between the males . Their menu is very varied. In addition to fruits, insects, spiders and tree frogs, this also includes young birds and lizards (including their own species).

Anoles communicate with each other, for example when advertising or fighting, by nodding the head, raising the throat flag, lifting, flattening to the side or rocking the body and by stroking the tail. When in danger, they turn away from their opponent and retreat to the opposite side of the branch.

Reproduction

The breeding season of the knight anole extends from April to November. The females lay their eggs about three to four weeks after mating and dig them about two inches deep into the ground. The young hatch after 69 to 72 days and are then about 11.5 to 15 centimeters long. Females are sexually mature at nine months.

Laboratory studies have shown that males attempt to mate with males. They may be unable to distinguish males from females.

Subspecies

About 11 subspecies are known, some of which differ considerably in color:

literature

  • W.-E. Engelmann: Unusual food of a knight anole. In: Aquariums Terrariums . Vol. 23, No. 8, 1976, p. 315.
  • A. Blumberg: The knight anole. In: Aquariums Magazin. Vol. 11, No. 6, 1977, ISSN  0003-7257 , pp. 230-231.
  • Jan Sevcik: Knight anole in nature and in the terrarium. In: DATZ . Vol. 43, No. 3, 1990, pp. 156-158.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Jennifer Dutch: Anolis equestris. In: Animal Diversity Web, 2002 ( online , accessed November 13, 2014).
  2. ^ A b Albert Schwartz , Robert W. Henderson: Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies. Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. University Press of Florida, Gainesville FL 1991, ISBN 0-8130-1049-7 , pp. 256-258.
  3. ↑ a b Manfred Rogner : Lizards. Care and breeding in the terrarium. Volume 1: geckos, pinnipeds, agamas, chameleons and iguanas. Ulmer, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-8001-7248-8 , p. 216.
  4. ↑ a b Deiroptyx equestris in The Reptile Database ; Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  5. ^ A b Brian J. Camposano, Kenneth L. Krysko, Kevin M. Enge, Ellen M. Donlan, Michael Granatosky: The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in Florida. In: Iguana. Vol. 15, No. 4, 2008, pp. 212-218, ( digitized PDF; 207.23 kB ).

Web links

Commons : Knight anole ( Anolis equestris )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files