Reptiles
Crested Anole
Anolis cristatellus · also called Puerto Rican crested anole
On a sunlit wall in a Puerto Rican neighbourhood, a male crested anole raises his tail crest sharply as a rival male approaches, a visual warning delivered well before either lizard commits to anything more physical.
Overview
The crested anole, Anolis cristatellus, is a small, adaptable lizard native to forest and coastal habitat across Puerto Rico and adjacent islands, with introduced populations now established in Florida, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica. Its distinctive tail-crest display and comfortable tolerance for urban environments make it one of the more visually expressive and widely spreading anole species in the Caribbean.
A lizard equally at home on bark or brick
Few anoles have adapted as readily to human-altered landscapes as the crested anole, moving between tree trunks and building walls with the same ease, a flexibility that has helped the species establish itself well beyond its native Puerto Rico.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and common across suitable habitat throughout Puerto Rico and adjacent islands, with stable introduced populations elsewhere.
Crested Anole: common questions
Why does a male crested anole raise its tail crest?
A male crested anole raises a distinct crest along the tail specifically during territorial disputes with rival males, a visual display used alongside body posturing to assert dominance or intimidate a competitor without necessarily resorting to physical combat.
How did the crested anole spread beyond Puerto Rico?
The crested anole has become established as an introduced species in parts of Florida, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica, likely spreading through the pet trade and hitchhiking in plant shipments and other cargo moving between islands and the mainland.
Can the crested anole survive in cities?
Yes, a crested anole tolerates urban and disturbed habitat well, often found on walls, fences, and buildings in addition to natural forest and coastal vegetation, an adaptability that has helped the species establish itself readily in new introduced locations.
Where does the crested anole live?
The crested anole is native to forest and coastal habitat across Puerto Rico and adjacent smaller islands, with introduced populations now also established in parts of Florida, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica.