Reptiles
Bark Anole
Anolis distichus · also called bark anoles
Pressed flat against a tree trunk, a bark anole blends so completely with the surrounding bark that only the sudden flash of a male’s colourful dewlap during a territorial display gives away exactly where it has been sitting all along.
Overview
The bark anole, Anolis distichus, is a small lizard native to forest and coastal habitat across parts of the Caribbean, with introduced populations established across Florida. Its strong preference for tree trunk habitat, effective bark camouflage, and status as one of several anole species now established in Florida through introduction make it a representative example of the state’s increasingly diverse anole community.
A lizard that never leaves the trunk
While many anole species move freely between leaves, twigs, and trunks, the bark anole keeps close to tree trunks specifically, a habitat preference reflected in both its name and its bark-matching camouflage.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and common across suitable tree trunk habitat throughout its native Caribbean range and introduced populations in Florida.
Bark Anole: common questions
Why is it called the bark anole?
This species spends most of its time on tree trunks rather than leaves or twigs, a strong habitat preference directly reflected in its common name, and its mottled grey-brown colouration blends closely with tree bark, reinforcing the connection between the species' name and its typical perching behaviour.
Is the bark anole native to Florida?
No, this species was introduced to Florida from the Caribbean, where it has since become established and is now a regular part of the state's anole community, joining several other anole species with similarly mixed native and introduced origins across Florida.
How can you identify a bark anole?
Look for a mottled grey-brown pattern that blends closely with tree bark, combined with a strong tendency to perch on tree trunks rather than leaves or twigs, and in males, a colourful dewlap extended during territorial disputes and courtship displays.
How does the bark anole grip tree bark so well?
This species has adhesive toe pads that allow it to grip textured bark surfaces securely, an adaptation shared broadly across anole species generally and well suited to this particular species' strong preference for spending most of its time on tree trunks.