Kenneth L. Krysko photo.
Brown Anole, Anolis sagrei
The brown anole is an exotic species that was accidentally introduced into Florida on shipments from the West Indies in the early 1900's. Their color varies from yellowish tan to brown. Females and juveniles have a series of light-colored diamonds down the middle of the back. Males use a bright red throatfan to threaten other males and to court females. Brown anoles are a terrestrial species often seen on the walls of the Fort Matanzas National Monument buildings and on rocks and logs. When threatened they flee down to the ground to hide. They are particularly abundant on the rocky riprap lining the approach ramp to the Highway A1A bridge over the Matanzas River inlet. They catch their food by dashing rapidly forward and grabbing ants, roaches, spiders, beetles, and other small prey in their jaws.
