BONUS – Water Anole REDUX

“…and today we’re talking about little swimmers. And not the aquatic diaper brand.”

Let’s dive right into the cool, calm, and collected world of a lizard that’s not afraid to get its scales wet. Most reptiles avoid water like it’s hot lava, but not this daredevil. Imagine a scuba diver, a magician, and a survivalist all rolled into one—that’s the Water Anole for you. What secrets does it hold beneath the rippling surface? Stick around to find out, like the Water Anole here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

Description

Body: Their body is slender, with a long tail which acts as a counterbalance when they’re climbing or swimming.

Coloration: Water anoles exhibit a range of colors from greens to browns, often with distinctive patterns. They can change color, with males becoming brighter during mating seasons. Their ventral side (belly) is usually lighter, sometimes with yellow or white hues.

Skin: Their skin has a texture that aids in water repellency, which is crucial for their underwater air bubble formation.

Head: They have a relatively large head compared to their body size, with large, prominent eyes that give them good vision, both in and out of water. Their eyes can be yellowish or greenish, with a dark pupil.

Measure Up

Length: Around 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm) in total length, including its tail.

They’re less than the size of a pencil.

1. ~30 anoles go into Toyota RAV4 (CORRECT)
2. ~400 anoles go into stretch limo 
3. ~2,000,000 anoles go into Lake Okeechobee 

Weight: Generally weighs around 0.1 to 0.2 ounces (3 to 6 grams)

1. 290 anoles go into a gallon of propane 
2. 1,040 anoles go into a gallon of mercury (CORRECT)
3. 504 anoles go into a gallon of gasoline 

Fast Facts

1. Great Swimmers: Unlike many other anoles, water anoles are adept swimmers. They are often found near water bodies like streams and wetlands, where they can dive and swim effectively. They’ve been observed swimming underwater using their tails for propulsion.
2. Habitat: Water anoles are typically found in Central America, particularly in places with slow-moving streams and wetlands. Their habitat allows them to take advantage of both terrestrial and aquatic environments.
3. Coloration: Like many anoles, the water anole can change its coloration to some extent, although it’s not as dramatic as some other species. Their coloration tends to be more subdued, usually brown or grayish, helping them blend into their natural environment.
4. Diet: They are insectivores, primarily feeding on small insects, spiders, and other arthropods they catch while foraging. Occasionally, they may even hunt aquatic insects that are present in or near the water.
5. Climbing Ability: Even though they are known for their swimming ability, water anoles are also skilled climbers. They are often seen on rocks, branches, and vegetation near their water habitats, where they can easily escape predators or bask in the sun.
6. Mating Displays: Like other anoles, males have a colorful dewlap (a throat flap), which they use in territorial displays to attract females or ward off rivals. The size and color of the dewlap can vary depending on the specific population.
7. Temperature Regulation: Water anoles are ectothermic (cold-blooded), meaning they rely on external temperatures to regulate their body heat. They can often be seen basking in the sun near water or on rocks to warm up.
8. Reproductive Behavior: They lay eggs, and the females usually deposit their eggs in moist, protected areas such as crevices or under rocks. The eggs hatch after a few weeks, depending on environmental conditions.
9. Resilience: Water anoles are relatively hardy and can survive in a variety of environments, as long as there is access to water and ample places to hide from predators.

Major Fact

• Water anoles can breathe underwater using a clever trick involving a thin layer of air.
• They create a “rebreather” effect by trapping a bubble of air around their snouts while submerged.
• This air bubble allows them to extract oxygen and release carbon dioxide.
• The bubble clings to hydrophobic skin, preventing water from collapsing it.
• They can stay underwater for up to 16 minutes using this technique.
• It’s a life-saving adaptation for escaping predators or hunting aquatic insects.
• By staying submerged, they can hide from birds, snakes, and other threats.
• The mechanism works similarly to how diving bell spiders use their air bubbles to breathe and star-nosed moles use air bubbles underwater to smell

Ending: So take a dip, bring some extra air, and plumb the depths like few reptiles ever could like the water anole here in LDT.